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Journal of Clinical Medicine Dec 2020The islet purification step in clinical islet isolation is important for minimizing the risks associated with intraportal infusion. Continuous density gradient with a... (Review)
Review
The islet purification step in clinical islet isolation is important for minimizing the risks associated with intraportal infusion. Continuous density gradient with a COBE 2991 cell processor is commonly used for clinical islet purification. However, the high shear force involved in the purification method using the COBE 2991 cell processor causes mechanical damage to the islets. We and other groups have shown human/porcine islet purification using large cylindrical plastic bottles. Shear stress can be minimized or eliminated using large cylindrical plastic bottles because the bottles do not have a narrow segment and no centrifugation is required during tissue loading and the collection processes of islet purification. This review describes current advances in islet purification from large mammals and humans using a COBE 2991 cell processor versus large cylindrical plastic bottles.
PubMed: 33374512
DOI: 10.3390/jcm10010010 -
Chemical Science Jul 2021The implementation of a quantum computer requires both to protect information from environmental noise and to implement quantum operations efficiently. Achieving this by...
The implementation of a quantum computer requires both to protect information from environmental noise and to implement quantum operations efficiently. Achieving this by a fully fault-tolerant platform, in which quantum gates are implemented within quantum-error corrected units, poses stringent requirements on the coherence and control of such hardware. A more feasible architecture could consist of connected memories, that support error-correction by enhancing coherence, and processing units, that ensure fast manipulations. We present here a supramolecular {CrNi}-Cu system which could form the elementary unit of this platform, where the electronic spin 1/2 of {CrNi} provides the processor and the naturally isolated nuclear spin 3/2 of the Cu ion is used to encode a logical unit with embedded quantum error-correction. We demonstrate by realistic simulations that microwave pulses allow us to rapidly implement gates on the processor and to swap information between the processor and the quantum memory. By combining the storage into the Cu nuclear spin with quantum error correction, information can be protected for times much longer than the processor coherence.
PubMed: 34276940
DOI: 10.1039/d1sc01506k -
Analytical Chemistry Dec 2017Automated and reproducible sample handling is a key requirement for high-throughput compound screening and currently demands heavy reliance on expensive robotics in...
Automated and reproducible sample handling is a key requirement for high-throughput compound screening and currently demands heavy reliance on expensive robotics in screening centers. Integrated droplet microfluidic screening processors are poised to replace robotic automation by miniaturizing biochemical reactions to the droplet scale. These processors must generate, incubate, and sort droplets for continuous droplet screening, passively handling millions of droplets with complete uniformity, especially during the key step of sample incubation. Here, we disclose an integrated microfluidic emulsion creamer that packs ("creams") assay droplets by draining away excess oil through microfabricated drain channels. The drained oil coflows with creamed emulsion and then reintroduces the oil to disperse the droplets at the circuit terminus for analysis. Creamed emulsion assay incubation time dispersion was 1.7%, 3-fold less than other reported incubators. The integrated, continuous emulsion creamer (ICEcreamer) was used to miniaturize and optimize measurements of various enzymatic activities (phosphodiesterase, kinase, bacterial translation) under multiple- and single-turnover conditions. Combining the ICEcreamer with current integrated microfluidic DNA-encoded library bead processors eliminates potentially cumbersome instrumentation engineering challenges and is compatible with assays of diverse target class activities commonly investigated in drug discovery.
Topics: Emulsions; Gene Library; High-Throughput Screening Assays; Microfluidic Analytical Techniques; Particle Size
PubMed: 29124927
DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.7b03070 -
Nature Apr 2022The ability to engineer parallel, programmable operations between desired qubits within a quantum processor is key for building scalable quantum information systems. In...
The ability to engineer parallel, programmable operations between desired qubits within a quantum processor is key for building scalable quantum information systems. In most state-of-the-art approaches, qubits interact locally, constrained by the connectivity associated with their fixed spatial layout. Here we demonstrate a quantum processor with dynamic, non-local connectivity, in which entangled qubits are coherently transported in a highly parallel manner across two spatial dimensions, between layers of single- and two-qubit operations. Our approach makes use of neutral atom arrays trapped and transported by optical tweezers; hyperfine states are used for robust quantum information storage, and excitation into Rydberg states is used for entanglement generation. We use this architecture to realize programmable generation of entangled graph states, such as cluster states and a seven-qubit Steane code state. Furthermore, we shuttle entangled ancilla arrays to realize a surface code state with thirteen data and six ancillary qubits and a toric code state on a torus with sixteen data and eight ancillary qubits. Finally, we use this architecture to realize a hybrid analogue-digital evolution and use it for measuring entanglement entropy in quantum simulations, experimentally observing non-monotonic entanglement dynamics associated with quantum many-body scars. Realizing a long-standing goal, these results provide a route towards scalable quantum processing and enable applications ranging from simulation to metrology.
PubMed: 35444318
DOI: 10.1038/s41586-022-04592-6 -
Micromachines Jan 2021The development of the mobile industry brings about the demand for high-performance embedded systems in order to meet the requirement of user-centered application....
The development of the mobile industry brings about the demand for high-performance embedded systems in order to meet the requirement of user-centered application. Because of the limitation of memory resource, employing compressed data is efficient for an embedded system. However, the workload for data decompression causes an extreme bottleneck to the embedded processor. One of the ways to alleviate the bottleneck is to integrate a hardware accelerator along with the processor, constructing a system-on-chip (SoC) for the embedded system. In this paper, we propose a lossless decompression accelerator for an embedded processor, which supports LZ77 decompression and static Huffman decoding for an inflate algorithm. The accelerator is implemented on a field programmable gate array (FPGA) to verify the functional suitability and fabricated in a Samsung 65 nm complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) process. The performance of the accelerator is evaluated by the Canterbury corpus benchmark and achieved throughput up to 20.7 MB/s at 50 MHz system clock frequency.
PubMed: 33572563
DOI: 10.3390/mi12020145 -
Sensors (Basel, Switzerland) Nov 2018Modern supercomputers include hundreds of thousands of processors and they are thus massively parallel systems. The interconnection network of a system is in charge of...
Modern supercomputers include hundreds of thousands of processors and they are thus massively parallel systems. The interconnection network of a system is in charge of mutually connecting these processors. Recently, the torus has become a very popular interconnection network topology. For example, the Fujitsu K, IBM Blue Gene/L, IBM Blue Gene/P, and Cray Titan supercomputers all rely on this topology. The pairwise disjoint-path routing problem in a torus network is addressed in this paper. This fundamental problem consists of the selection of mutually vertex disjoint paths between given vertex pairs. Proposing a solution to this problem has critical implications, such as increased system dependability and more efficient data transfers, and provides concrete implementation of green and sustainable computing as well as security, privacy, and trust, for instance, for the Internet of Things (IoT). Then, the correctness and complexities of the proposed routing algorithm are formally established. Precisely, in an -dimensional -ary torus ( n < k , k ≥ 5 ), the proposed algorithm connects ( c ≤ n ) vertex pairs with mutually vertex-disjoint paths of lengths at most 2 k ( c - 1 ) + n ⌊ k / 2 ⌋ , and the worst-case time complexity of the algorithm is O ( n c 4 ) . Finally, empirical evaluation of the proposed algorithm is conducted in order to inspect its practical behavior.
PubMed: 30428614
DOI: 10.3390/s18113912 -
Sensors (Basel, Switzerland) Mar 2022Division is generally regarded as a low-frequency, high-latency operation in integer operations. Division is also the operation that stalls the processor pipeline most...
Division is generally regarded as a low-frequency, high-latency operation in integer operations. Division is also the operation that stalls the processor pipeline most frequently. In order to improve the overall performance of embedded processors, a low-delay divider for embedded processors was designed. Based on the non-restoring algorithm, the divider uses a compound adder to execute addition and subtraction simultaneously and reduces the iteration path delay. By shifting the operands to align the most effective bits, the divider dynamically adjusts the number of iteration cycles to reduce the average number of cycles in the division process. The divider design was simulated by Modelsim and implemented on a FPGA board for verification. Synthesized in a Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC) 65 nm Low Leakage process, the achieved frequency of the design was up to 500 MHz and the area cost was 5670.36 μm. Compared with other dividers, the proposed divider design can reduce the delay of single iteration by up to 45.3%, save the average number of iteration cycles by 20-50%, and save the area by 23.3-86.1%. Compared with other dividers implemented on FPGA, it saves LUTs by 36.47-59.6% and FFs by 67-84.28%, runs 2-6.36 times faster. Therefore, the proposed design is suitable for embedded processors that require low power consumption, low resource consumption, and high performance.
Topics: Algorithms; Semiconductors
PubMed: 35408086
DOI: 10.3390/s22072471 -
European Archives of... May 2023The Vibrant Soundbridge (VSB) is a semi-implantable hearing aid for patients with various types of hearing loss and has been available for over 25 years. Recently, new...
INTRODUCTION
The Vibrant Soundbridge (VSB) is a semi-implantable hearing aid for patients with various types of hearing loss and has been available for over 25 years. Recently, new audio processors with advanced signal processing, noise reduction, and multi-microphone technology have appeared. The aim of this study is to compare the benefits of using the newest Samba 2 processor to the previous generation processors in a group of experienced VSB users.
METHODS
There were 22 experienced VSB users (mean time of using VSB was 9 years, SD = 2) who had their processor (D404 or Amadé) upgraded to the newest model (Samba 2). The mean age of the subjects was 56 years (SD = 20). Assessments were made by free-field audiometry, speech reception in quiet and noise, and Patient-Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs).
RESULTS
Hearing tests in free field showed statistically significant improvements in hearing sensitivity and speech discrimination in quiet and noise with the Samba 2 audio processor compared to the earlier technology. PROMs confirmed the benefits of using the newest audio processor and there was more satisfaction in terms of usability.
CONCLUSIONS
Access to modern technology for VSB patients provides measurable benefits.
Topics: Humans; Middle Aged; Ossicular Prosthesis; Hearing; Hearing Loss; Audiometry; Noise; Hearing Aids; Speech Perception
PubMed: 36441245
DOI: 10.1007/s00405-022-07741-9 -
Journal of the American Academy of... Sep 2020Microphone location has been shown to influence speech recognition with a microphone placed at the entrance to the ear canal yielding higher levels of speech recognition...
BACKGROUND
Microphone location has been shown to influence speech recognition with a microphone placed at the entrance to the ear canal yielding higher levels of speech recognition than top-of-the-pinna placement. Although this work is currently influencing cochlear implant programming practices, prior studies were completed with previous-generation microphone and sound processor technology. Consequently, the applicability of prior studies to current clinical practice is unclear.
PURPOSE
To investigate how microphone location (e.g., at the entrance to the ear canal, at the top of the pinna), speech-source location, and configuration (e.g., omnidirectional, directional) influence speech recognition for adult CI recipients with the latest in sound processor technology.
RESEARCH DESIGN
Single-center prospective study using a within-subjects, repeated-measures design.
STUDY SAMPLE
Eleven experienced adult Advanced Bionics cochlear implant recipients (five bilateral, six bimodal) using a Naída CI Q90 sound processor were recruited for this study.
DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
Sentences were presented from a single loudspeaker at 65 dBA for source azimuths of 0°, 90°, or 270° with semidiffuse noise originating from the remaining loudspeakers in the R-SPACE array. Individualized signal-to-noise ratios were determined to obtain 50% correct in the unilateral cochlear implant condition with the signal at 0°. Performance was compared across the following microphone sources: T-Mic 2, integrated processor microphone (formerly behind-the-ear mic), processor microphone + T-Mic 2, and two types of beamforming: monaural, adaptive beamforming (UltraZoom) and binaural beamforming (StereoZoom). Repeated-measures analyses were completed for both speech recognition and microphone output for each microphone location and configuration as well as sound source location. A two-way analysis of variance using mic and azimuth as the independent variables and output for pink noise as the dependent variable was used to characterize the acoustic output characteristics of each microphone source.
RESULTS
No significant differences in speech recognition across omnidirectional mic location at any source azimuth or listening condition were observed. Secondary findings were (1) omnidirectional microphone configurations afforded significantly higher speech recognition for conditions in which speech was directed to ± 90° (when compared with directional microphone configurations), (2) omnidirectional microphone output was significantly greater when the signal was presented off-axis, and (3) processor microphone output was significantly greater than T-Mic 2 when the sound originated from 0°, which contributed to better aided detection at 2 and 6 kHz with the processor microphone in this group.
CONCLUSIONS
Unlike previous-generation microphones, we found no statistically significant effect of microphone location on speech recognition in noise from any source azimuth. Directional microphones significantly improved speech recognition in the most difficult listening environments.
Topics: Adult; Cochlear Implantation; Cochlear Implants; Humans; Prospective Studies; Speech; Speech Perception
PubMed: 32340055
DOI: 10.1055/s-0040-1709449 -
Heliyon May 2022Soybean production is concentrated in the Guinea Savannah agro-ecological zone of Ghana. However, its cultivation is plagued with a number of constraints leading to low... (Review)
Review
Soybean production is concentrated in the Guinea Savannah agro-ecological zone of Ghana. However, its cultivation is plagued with a number of constraints leading to low yields. A participatory approach was, therefore, used to identify farmers' and processors' preferred soybean traits and production constraints, climate change effects and strategies employed for mitigating these effects in three districts within the soybean growing areas in Northern Ghana. The study revealed that 72.0 % and 68.8 % of farmers in the Tolon and Savelugu districts, respectively, used improved soybean seeds for planting their fields. Over 13.0 % of farmers indicated late maturity as the most important constraint, followed by manual threshing difficulty and terminal drought which results in low grain yield and poor quality. About 70.0 % of farmers opined that climate change effects are causing obvious shifts in the rainfall pattern. Majority of the farmers (94.6 %) indicated that the onset of peak rainfall has changed in the past decade. Almost 44.0% of farmers also indicated that severe drought has affected pods filling in the past. A third (33.3%) of farmers indicated that drought usually sets in at pod initiation. The farmers enumerated some of the effects of early cessation of the rainfall in soybean production as drying up of immature and green seed (28.3%), low grain yield (27.1%) and poor seed quality (22.1%). Some of the mitigation strategies employed by the farmers include early planting (40.0%) and mulching (25.0%) to retain soil moisture for enhanced growth of crops. The order of farmers' preferences new soybean varieties were shattering resistance (16.0%), high grain yield (14.0%), large seeds size (13.1%), and early maturity (11.8%), whereas processors preferred varieties with large seed size (30.6%), high protein content (28.7%), pest resistance (15.9%) and short cooking duration (12.7%). Both the farmers and processors indicated their willingness to pay more for seeds with the desired traits. These findings will aid soybean breeders in developing new varieties that possess desired traits preferred by both farmers and processors for increased soybean cultivation and utilization.
PubMed: 35620622
DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e09497