No abstract

Phase-change random access memory (PRAM) is considered as one of the most promising candidates for future memories because of its good scalability and cost-effectiveness [1]. Besides implementations with standard interfaces like NOR flash or LPDDR2-NVM, application-oriented approaches using PRAM as main-memory or storage-class memory have been researched [2][3]. These studies suggest that noticeable merits can be achieved by using PRAM in improving power consumption, system cost, etc. However, relatively low chip density and insufficient write bandwidth of PRAMs are obstacles to better system performance. In this paper, we present an 8Gb PRAM with 40MB/s write bandwidth featuring 8Mb sub-array core architecture with 20nm diode-switched PRAM cells [4]. When an external high voltage is applied, the write bandwidth can be extended as high as 133MB/s.

Droplet microfluidics provides a high-throughput platform for screening subjects and conditions involved in biology. Droplets with encapsulated beads and cells have been increasingly used for studying molecular and cellular biology. Droplet sorting is needed to isolate and analyze the subject of interest during such screening. The vast majority of current sorting techniques use fluorescence intensity emitted by each droplet as the only criterion. However, due to the randomness and imperfections in the encapsulation process, typically a mixed population of droplets with an uneven number of encapsulated particles results and is used for screening. Thus droplet sorting based on the number of encapsulated particles becomes necessary for isolating or enriching droplets with a specific occupancy. In this work, we developed a fluorescence-activated microfluidic droplet sorter that integrated a simple deflection mechanism based on the use of a solenoid valve and a sophisticated signal processing system with a microcontroller as the core. By passing droplets through a narrow interrogation channel, the encapsulated particles were detected individually. The microcontroller conducted the computation to determine the number of encapsulated particles in each droplet and made the sorting decision accordingly that led to actuation of the solenoid valve. We tested both fluorescent beads and stained cells and our results showed high efficiency and accuracy for sorting and enrichment.

No abstract

No abstract