Investigation of an Optimal Material Addition Rate for Energy Consumption and Dimensional Accuracy in Fused Filament Fabrication of CFR-PEEK.

The material addition rate (MAR) of fused filament fabrication (FFF) is an indicator of process efficiency varied by process parameter settings, which affects energy consumption and part quality in FFF. This study aims to identify the optimal MAR of FFF using carbon-fiber-reinforced polyether-ether-ketone (CFR-PEEK) by considering a trade-off between energy consumption and the dimensional accuracy of FFF outputs. A design of experiments considering two main process parameters is planned to print three sample types through FFF for CFR-PEEK. Then, the MAR (i.e., deposited material volume per build time) of FFF is obtained to derive individual regression models of energy consumption and the dimensional accuracy measured for each sample type. Furthermore, a trade-off between energy consumption and dimensional accuracy on the MAR is formulated to derive an optimal MAR for each sample type. The results show that FFF for CFR-PEEK has a trade-off between energy consumption and dimensional accuracy; there exists a specific MAR that maximizes the overall performance of energy consumption and dimensional accuracy for each sample type. The optimal MAR is the highest for the small volume sample, whereas it becomes the lowest for the vertical build orientation sample. This study suggests that the optimal MAR should be flexibly adjusted based on a fabricated part. The findings from this study also address the fact that decision-making for optimal FFF operations needs a transition from the identification of specific process parameter settings to the management of a proper process efficiency level in FFF.

The association between the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor α4 subunit gene (CHRNA4) rs1044396 and Internet gaming disorder in Korean male adults.

The primary aim of this study was to investigate the genetic predisposition of Internet gaming disorder (IGD), and the secondary aim was to compare the results to those of alcohol dependence (AD). Two independent case-control studies were conducted. A total of 30 male participants with IGD, diagnosed according to the 5th edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) criteria, and 30 sex-matched controls participated in study 1. We designed targeted exome sequencing (TES) to test for 72 candidate genes that have been implicated in the pathogenesis of addiction. The genes included seven neurotransmitter (dopamine, serotonin, glutamate, r-aminobutyric acid (GABA), norepinephrine, acetylcholine, and opioid) system genes. A total of 31 male in-patients with AD and 29 normal male controls (NC) were enrolled in study 2. The same 72 genes included in study 1 and ten additional genes related to alcohol-metabolic enzyme were selected as the target genes, and we identified the genetic variants using the same method (TES). The IGD group had a lower frequency of the T allele of rs1044396 in the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor alpha 4 subunit (CHRNA4), and this variant represents a protective allele against IGD. However, we did not find a significant difference in the polymorphisms of the 72 genes that encode neurotransmitter systems between the AD and NC groups. This study demonstrated that rs1044396 of CHRNA4 was significantly associated with IGD.

Post-Cleaning Effect on a HfO2 Gate Stack Using a NF3/NH3 Plasma.

The effects of dry cleaning of a HfO2 gate stack using NF3 only and a NF3/NH3 gas mixture plasma were investigated. The plasma dry cleaning process was carried out after HfO2 deposition using an indirect down-flow capacitively coupled plasma (CCP) system. An analysis of the chemical composition of the HfO2 gate stacks by XPS indicated that fluorine was incorporated into the HfO2 films during the plasma dry cleaning. Significant changes in the HfO2 chemical composition were observed as a result of the NF3 dry cleaning, while they were not observed in this case of NF3/NH3 dry cleaning. TEM results showed that the interfacial layer (IL) between the HfO2 and Si thickness was increased by the plasma dry cleaning. However, in the case of NF3/NH3 dry cleaning using 150 W, the IL thickness was suppressed significantly compared to the sample that had not been dry cleaned. Its electrical properties were also improved, including the low gate leakage currents, and reduced EOT. Finally, the finding show that the IL thickness of the HfO2 gate stack can be controlled by using the novel NF3/NH3 dry cleaning process technique without any the significant changes in chemical composition and metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) capacitor characteristics.

Measurement of bio-physical signals for posture movement on the transformation system.

A signal transformation system of posture movement for the stable state was designed in order to measure the bio-physical signal. To estimate the subject in a stable state on the basis of the bio-physical signal in the posture movement, the conditions of vision, vestibular, somatosensory apparatus and the central nervous system (CNS) were detected. Based on the vision condition, there was a greater average variation (Vi-αAVG-MAX and Vi-αAVG-MIN) in position with eyes closed and eyes opened (PC and PO), which was 27.11 ± 6.36 units. The vestibular condition showed a slightly larger average variation (Ve-αAVG-MAX and Ve-αAVG-MIN) in the body position with PC and PO, which was 6.60 ± 1.65 units. The somatosensory condition demonstrated a lower average variation (So-αAVG-MAX and So-αAVG-MIN) in position with PC and PO that amounted to 3.653 ± 2.424 units. The CNS condition was confirmed to indicate very little average variation (C-αAVG-MAX and C-αAVG-MIN) in body position with PC and PO that was at 0.401 ± 0.56 units. As the model depends on the bio-physical transformation system of posture movement, the average values of these perturbations were computed (0.01-2 Hz, range of Fourier frequency). The system consists of a data algorithm, an acquisition system, a data signal processing unit and a network system for the evaluated stability.