https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/bitstream/1810/264501/1/Fu_et_al-2017-Progress_in_Material_Science-VoR.pdf

Advances in piezoelectric thin films for acoustic biosensors, acoustofluidics and lab-on-chip applications

Recent developments on the preparation and application of ZnO films for acoustic wave-based microfluidics and biosensors are reviewed in this paper. High quality and strongly textured ZnO thin films can be prepared using many technologies, among which RF magnetron sputtering is most commonly used. This paper reviews the deposition of ZnO film and summarizes the factors influencing the microstructure, texture and piezoelectric properties of deposited ZnO films. ZnO acoustic wave devices can be successfully used as biosensors, based on the biomolecule recognition using highly sensitive shear horizontal and Love-wave surface acoustic waves, as well as film bulk acoustic resonator devices. The acoustic wave generated on the ZnO acoustic devices can induce significant acoustic streaming, small scale fluid mixing, pumping, ejection and atomization, depending on the wave mode, amplitude and surface condition. The potential to fabricate an integrated lab-on-a-chip diagnostic system based on these ZnO acoustic wave technologies is also discussed.

/pdf/recent-developments-on-zno-films-for-acoustic-wave-based-bio-35es1x3me2.pdf

Recent developments on ZnO films for acoustic wave based bio-sensing and microfluidic applications: a review

A novel wavelet transform aided neural network based transmission line fault analysis method

In high-speed rail operations, contact wire irregularity (CWI) in a catenary is a common disturbance to the pantograph–catenary interaction performance, which directly affects the quality of current collection. To describe the pointwise stochastics of CWI, the power spectral density (PSD) function for CWI is proposed, and its effect on the pantograph–catenary interaction is investigated. First, a preprocessing procedure is proposed to eliminate the redundant information in the measured irregularities based on the ensemble empirical mode decomposition (EEMD). Then, the upper envelope of the irregularity, which contains all the information regarding the dropper positions on the contact wire, is extracted. A form of the PSD function is suggested for contact wire irregularities. A methodology is proposed to include the effect of random irregularities in the assessment of the interaction performance of a pantograph–catenary. A developed target configuration under dead load (TCUD) method is used to calculate the initial configuration of the catenary, in which the dropper points on the contact wire are placed on their exact positions. Finally, the effect of the random contact wire irregularities on the contact force is investigated through 500 numerical simulations at each operating speed. The present results indicate that random irregularities have a direct impact on the pantograph–catenary contact, including an increment in the dispersion of the contact force statistics. The stochastic analysis shows that over 70% of the results with irregularities are worse than the ideal result without irregularities.

Contact Wire Irregularity Stochastics and Effect on High-Speed Railway Pantograph–Catenary Interactions

A survey on intelligent system application to fault diagnosis in electric power system transmission lines

Influence of contact wire pre-sag on the dynamics of pantograph–railway catenary

Novel technique for fault location estimation on parallel transmission lines using wavelet

Optical and structural properties of sputtered CdS films for thin film solar cell applications

“Internal controls” refer to organizational rules and procedures used to safeguard assets and to detect fraud, waste, and abuse. This study examines the relationship between internal control deficiencies and municipal bond borrowing costs. The most severe form of internal control deficiencies (i.e., material weaknesses) is associated with higher borrowing costs for municipal bonds, between 10 and 18 basis points. Credit ratings mediate some of the effect of material weaknesses in internal controls but the indirect effect is relatively small. The effect of internal control deficiencies on borrowing costs was consistent in the time period before and after the financial crisis.

https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/Delivery.cfm/PBAF_PBAF12120.pdf?abstractid=2929397&mirid=1

Internal Control Deficiencies and Municipal Borrowing Costs

Objective
To update a past systematic review on whether Medicare Part D changed drug utilization and out-of-pocket (OOP) costs overall and within subpopulations, and to identify evidence gaps.

Data Sources/Study Setting
Published and gray literature from 2010 to 2015 meeting prespecified screening criteria, including having a comparison group, and utilization or OOP cost outcomes.

Study Design
We conducted a systematic literature review with a quality assessment.

Data Collection/Extraction Methods
For each study, we extracted information on study design, data sources, analytic methods, outcomes, and limitations. Because outcome measures vary across studies, we did a qualitative synthesis rather than meta-analysis.

Principal Findings
Sixty-five studies met screening criteria. Overall, Medicare Part D enrollees have increased drug utilization and decreased OOP costs, but coverage gaps limit the program's impact. Beneficiaries whose insurance becomes more generous after enrollment had disproportionately increased drug utilization and decreased OOP costs. Outcomes among dual-eligibles were mixed.

Conclusions
There is strong evidence on how Medicare Part D and the donut hole coverage gap affect utilization and OOP costs, but weak evidence on how effects vary among dual-eligibles or across diseases. Findings suggest that the Affordable Care Act's provisions to expand coverage and reduce the donut hole should improve patient outcomes.

/pdf/medicare-part-d-s-effects-on-drug-utilization-and-out-of-nxk2n4do91.pdf

Young Park

Papers

Influence of contact wire pre-sag on the dynamics of pantograph–railway catenary

Novel technique for fault location estimation on parallel transmission lines using wavelet

Optical and structural properties of sputtered CdS films for thin film solar cell applications

Internal Control Deficiencies and Municipal Borrowing Costs

Medicare Part D's Effects on Drug Utilization and Out-of-Pocket Costs: A Systematic Review.