Organ-on-a-Chip Fabrication Using Dynamic Photomask.

Introduction: Intravenous (IV) oncology drug administration plays a pivotal role in cancer therapy, enabling swift and precise delivery of therapeutic agents. The preparation process for these drugs is highly complex, necessitating rigorous adherence to safety standards, efficient operational workflows, and adoption of advanced technologies to ensure both patient safety and treatment effectiveness. This review delves into the practices and innovations within pharmacy settings that underpin the preparation of IV oncology drugs, with an emphasis on safety, operational efficiency, technological advancements, and drug stability. Safety: Ensuring safety in the preparation of IV oncology medications is crucial due to the hazardous properties of chemotherapeutic agents. Compliance with standards such as USP <797> and USP <800> is vital to mitigate contamination risks and minimize exposure. Safety measures include the use of personal protective equipment (PPE), engineering controls such as biological safety cabinets (BSCs) and compounding aseptic containment isolators (CACIs), along with comprehensive staff training programs. Past incidents, such as contamination at the New England Compounding Center, illustrate the necessity for robust safety protocols to safeguard both patients and healthcare professionals. Efficiency: Optimizing efficiency in the preparation process is essential to address high demand while maintaining stringent safety and quality standards. Key steps include prescription validation, drug compounding, quality assurance, and dispensing. The adoption of technologies like automated compounding devices (ACDs) and pharmacy management systems has streamlined these processes, significantly reducing errors and preparation times. However, achieving a balance between operational efficiency and uncompromised safety remains a persistent challenge, requiring ongoing staff education, resource optimization, and strict compliance with regulatory guidelines. Innovative Technologies: The integration of cutting-edge technologies, including robotics, automation, and artificial intelligence (AI), has transformed IV drug preparation. Robotic systems offer enhanced precision and minimize human error, while AI and advanced aseptic techniques optimize workflows and dosing accuracy. Future advancements may include the application of 3D printing, nanotechnology, and blockchain to further elevate the safety, efficiency, and traceability of preparation processes. Stability: Preserving the stability of compounded oncology drugs is fundamental to their therapeutic effectiveness and safety. Stability is influenced by variables such as storage conditions, handling methods, and the compatibility of diluents and containers. Adhering to guidelines like USP <797> is crucial for maintaining stability. Innovations in stabilizing agents, packaging, and real-time monitoring systems are advancing the field, helping to overcome stability-related challenges and improving treatment outcomes. Conclusion: This review underscores the paramount importance of safety, efficiency, innovation, and stability in the preparation of IV oncology drugs. Strict adherence to safety standards, streamlined workflows, the adoption of advanced technologies, and meticulous stability management are critical to enhancing pharmacy practices and patient care. Future efforts should prioritize the integration of emerging technologies, standardization of procedures, continuous education for staff, and implementation of real-time monitoring to further progress in this domain. Addressing these challenges with innovative solutions will drive improvements in both patient safety and therapeutic outcomes.

ObjectiveThis article examines what the adoption and use of advanced medical technologies – computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) – by public hospitals depend on and to what extent.MethodsFrom a sample of panel data for all public hospitals in the health service of Galicia (a subregion of the Galicia-North of Portugal Euroregion) for the 2010–2017 period, we grouped explanatory variables into inputs (resources), outputs (activities) and socio-demographic variables. Factor analysis was used to reduce as much as possible the number of analysed variables, discriminant analysis to examine the technologies adoption decision, and multiple regression analysis to investigate their use.ResultsFactor analysis identified motivators on adoption and use of CT and MRI medical technologies as follows: hospital inputs/outputs (Factor 1); radiology studies and adoption of CT by public hospitals (Factor 2); research/teaching role and big-ticket diagnostic and therapeutic (lithotripsy) technologies (Factor 3); number of transplants (Factor 4); cancer diagnosis/treatment (Factor 5); and catchment area geographical dispersion (Factor 6). Cronbach’s alpha of 0.881 indicated an acceptable degree of reliability of the factor variables. Regarding adoption of these technologies, Factor 1 is the most influential, explaining 37% of the variance and showing adequate global internal consistency, whereas Factor 2 is limited to 13% of the variance. In the discriminant analysis, values for Box’s M test and canonical correlations such as Wilks’s lambda for the two technologies underpin the reliability and predictive capacity of the discriminant equations. Finally, and according to the regression analysis, the factor with the greatest influence on CT and MRI use is Factor 2, followed by Factors 1 and 3 in the case of CT use, and Factors 3 and 5 in the case of MRI use.ConclusionCT and MRI adoption by public hospitals is mainly determined by hospital inputs and outputs. However, the use of both medical technologies is mainly influenced by conventional radiology studies and CT adoption. These results suggest that both choices – adoption and use of advanced medical technology – may be separate decisions as they are taken possibly by different people (the former by managers and policymakers and the latter by physicians).

Recently, the advanced technologies that offer high precision product, relative easy, economical process and also rapid production are needed to realize the high demand of ultra precision micro part. In our research, micromanufacturing based on soft lithography and nanopowder injection molding was investigated. The silicone metal pattern with ultra thick and high aspect ratio succeeds to fabricate Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) micro mold. The process followed by nanopowder injection molding (PIM) by a simple vacuum hot press. The 17-4ph nanopowder with diameter of 100 nm, succeed to be injected and it forms green sample microbearing with thickness, microchannel and aspect ratio is 700μm, 60μm and 12, respectively. Sintering process was done in 1200 C for 2 hours and heating rate 0.83oC/min. Since low powder load (45% PL) was applied to achieve green sample fabrication, ~15% shrinkage happen in the 86% relative density. Several improvements should be done to produce high accuracy and full density sintered part.

Background and Objective: Clinical toxicology testing plays a critical role in patient care by supporting drug management, detecting toxic exposures, and monitoring medication adherence. With the increasing complexity of drug use patterns and the need for rapid, accurate diagnostics, toxicology laboratories must strategically select specimen types and analytical platforms that align with clinical needs. This review aims to summarize key aspects of toxicology testing, including specimen selection, screening and confirmation technologies, and result interpretation. It also highlights emerging trends and innovations that may shape the future of clinical toxicology. Methods: A narrative review of current toxicology practices was conducted, focusing on the clinical utility and limitations of common matrices (urine, blood, oral fluid, hair, neonatal specimens, breath, and fingerprint sweat), screening technologies (immunoassays, point-of-care tests, mass spectrometry), and confirmatory techniques (gas chromatography, liquid chromatography, and mass spectrometry). Databases and other sources searched included PubMed, textbooks, scientific organizations, vendor websites, College of American Pathologists (CAP) resources, and Clinical & Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) guidance documents. These were referenced between January and September 2025, and only those written in English were considered. Literature and guideline references were integrated with practical insights for laboratory implementation. Key Content and Findings: Each specimen matrix offers unique advantages and limitations regarding detection window, invasiveness, and interpretability. While urine remains the dominant matrix for drug screening, oral fluid and other emerging specimens (e.g., breath, fingerprint sweat) offer new opportunities for noninvasive testing. Immunoassay-based screens, while rapid and widely used, are vulnerable to false-positive and -negative results. Mass spectrometry-based methods provide superior specificity and breadth but require greater technical expertise and infrastructure. Technological advances—including automated mass spectrometry platforms and artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted interpretation—aim to address barriers to implementation and improve turnaround time, standardization, and clinical utility. Result interpretation remains a major challenge due to complex pharmacokinetics and limited clinician training; input from an expert toxicologist is essential to avoid misinterpretation and ensure appropriate follow-up. Conclusions: Optimizing toxicology testing requires a balance between analytical performance, clinical context, and operational feasibility. Continued advancements in analytical technologies, specimen diversity, and data interpretation tools hold promise for enhancing diagnostic accuracy and clinical decision-making in toxicology. Expert oversight and appropriate test utilization will remain pivotal in maximizing the impact of laboratory toxicology services.

Malaysian palm oil mills have lagged behind in the adoption of advanced milling technologies, both to support productivity growth as well as meet sustainable development goals. Using primary data from a simple random sample of 54 mills, this study sought to examine the factors explaining the adoption of advanced milling technologies. The results from the logit regressions deployed show that top management support and mill size act as key drivers of new technology adoption. Importantly, organizational factors were more critical in the adoption of advanced milling technologies than technological and environmental factors. However, financial support and resources, technical skills, complexity, cost, and government support produced negative coefficients among the non-adopters. The results should help mill owners, managers, and policymakers to remove the barriers facing the non-adopters, and to create effective strategies to stimulate the adoption of advanced milling technologies.

Although many microfabrication methods have been reported, the preliminary replication templates used in most microfabrication still depend on the expensive and long-period photolithography. This paper explores an alternative replication templates based on a daily used material, flash foam (FF), and proposes a facile microfabrication method, flash foam stamp lithography (FFSL). When FF is exposed with a desired pattern mask, the negative of the pattern is transferred to its surface and micro structures are formed due to the shrinkage of the exposed area. As FF is commonly used in personal stamps, FFSL is very simple and cost-effective. In this paper, we demonstrated that FF is a good and low-cost template for many micro fabrication methods, such as micro casting and soft lithography. Thus, designing and fabricating micro structures at personal office immediately become possible with FFSL. Furthermore, we demonstrated that multi-scale micro structures can be easily fabricated by double exposure with FFSL. Skin textures is used as another case to demonstrate that FFSL can fabricate structures with different depth in a single exposure. As a result, FF shows a promising future in biology, and analytical chemistry, such as rapid fabrication of point of care diagnostics and microfluidic analytical devices with low cost.

Development of laser fabrication methods for lab-on-a-chip microfluidic multisensing devices in the past decades

How different agricultural research models contribute to impacts: Evidence from 13 case studies in developing countries

Soybean ICT was designed base on success story of rice field ICT experience. The research aim to describe farmers opportunity of technology adoption accelerationin case study of Soybean ICMin South Sulawesi. The research has done in FY 2015, with 30 adopters participants as respondent. Data analysis uses binary logistic regression approach which lag adoption as dependent variable and others 12 variables as independent variable, namely: ages, formal education base, land property status, farming system scale, distance from nearest information source and information pathway. The research reveals that: (1) Threre were variation of farmer appreciation of soybean technology, (2) Technology adoption lag as acceleration proxy, shown about 1 – 4 years since he knows technology to technology adoption, (3) There are 5 partial independent variable influence of adoption acceleration, namely farm size, long distance of farm location to house, IATAD, technology source, and land status, (4) opportunity of soybean farmers occur one time if there are adding soybean harvest for 1 hectar. 6’s time for farm location wich more close to house farmers. In other hand, farmers adoption gradually occur since distance location of farm tend relatively far to technology information source. The technology guidance with participative and market price policy for acceleration of adoption innovation, are needed.

Technological advancements in agriculture—particularly the use of drones—have opened new horizons for increasing productivity, optimizing resource use, and achieving sustainable farming. However, in rural and underprivileged areas, the adoption and effective utilization of such technologies require careful attention to social, cultural, and educational contexts. This chapter focuses on the socio-cultural requirements and considerations, analyzing the critical roles of cultural factors, indigenous knowledge, social norms, and local trust in the acceptance of drone technology. Additionally, it explores the educational challenges in these regions—including low literacy levels, lack of educational and digital infrastructure, and linguistic and communication barriers—as major obstacles to the effective promotion of such innovations. Drawing on theories of innovation diffusion, adult education, and participatory learning, the chapter proposes strategies for designing educational programs tailored to local conditions and the real needs of farmers. The main objective is to emphasize the necessity of a localized, context-sensitive approach to promoting agricultural technologies, and to present a framework for the effective deployment of drones in empowering rural communities and advancing sustainable agriculture at the local level.

The research examines the adoption of modern agricultural technologies, essential for policymakers and technology providers to evaluate existing initiatives and enhance dissemination strategies. The primary emphasis on the impact of socioeconomic characteristics and technology adoption on agriculture income is crucial for assessing economic outcomes, guiding efforts to improve farmers' well-being. Objective of the current study was to estimate the impact of socioeconomic characteristics of farmers and adoption of technology on their income and suggest policy measures. For estimation purposes, central Punjab was chosen, and data was collected. A well-organized questionnaire was distributed to 401 farmers in central Punjab. OLS technique was used for analysis to estimate the impact of independent variables on farmers' income. According to the results, adoption of advanced technology, awareness of technology, land holding, family size, and farmer education have a statistically significant impact on the dependent variable in the model. It is recommended to launch extensive awareness programs in collaboration with agricultural extension services to educate farmers on the advantages of advanced technologies, advocate for policies ensuring fair land access, recognize the role of family size in agriculture, and improve customized educational programs to empower farmers with ongoing learning and skill development, fostering a culture of innovation.

This chapter explores how gender equity acts as a powerful catalyst for innovation by integrating diverse perspectives in research, development, and technological advancement. It emphasizes the systemic challenges that hinder women's full participation in innovation ecosystems, such as biased funding structures, workplace inflexibility, and underrepresentation in leadership roles. Drawing on innovation ecosystem theory and intersectionality, the chapter highlights how inclusive policies, mentorship, and education reform are essential to harnessing the untapped potential of women in innovation. Case studies from global corporations and startups demonstrate the economic and social benefits of gender-diverse teams. The chapter concludes with strategic recommendations to build inclusive innovation cultures for long-term equitable growth.

Energy technology development, adoption, and deployment are featured in the national economic development plans of all countries. The success of such economic development plans has manifestations that go beyond just the provision of goods and services to citizens who increasingly demand an enhanced standard of living. It extends to the survival of political establishments themselves. Furthermore, the international geopolitics of energy systems and its complex web of possibilities, opportunities, and jconstraints drive, and are driven, by technology implementation. Thus, the construction of oil platforms in the North Sea reformatted international alignments on energy issues, and advances in horizontal drilling technologies for oil recovery from continental shelves increased the number of oil-producing countries. Today, basically all countries that border on oceans and large seas are oil-producing. Technology is the link between opportunity/ potential and harvest of benefits along the path to sustainable development, a status that must be defined in terms of the optional mix of economic development, environmental quality, and social equity. Energy as a natural resource is as bountiful as its demands for operational civil/industrial systems. Unfortunately, it is not always available in readily usable forms at locations of high demand. Geospatial factors climate, terrain, vegetation, and geology , socio-economic factors, and political factors e.g., international alliances determine the overall implementability and sustainability of a specific energy technology. The first set of factors merely determines the technical potential along with some associated cost factors, while the second and third set of factors determine the possibility and ease of translation from an acceptable level of technical potential to implementation. On the basis of geospatial factors, high feasibility can be assigned to geothermal energy as the primary energy source in the northwestern United States, solar energy in the tropics, wind energy in the desert and high-altitude terrains, biomass energy in luxuriantly vegetated zones around the world and in regions that produce significant amounts of organic wastes, and nuclear energy in countries endowed with uranium/plutonium. Such perfect matches between energy demand and indigenous energy sources qualify as highly desirable cases of the much sought-after “distributed energy system.” They can also minimize intercontinental and international transfers of energy in terms of electricity and fuel that have caused some costly conflicts. Unfortunately, the potential for such development is currently overridden by socioeconomic and sociopolitical factors, as well as the lack of technological capacity of some regions and countries. About half the people in the world, mostly within the tropics, still cook their food over open fires that are fueled by firewood, coal, animal dung, and crop residues. These fuels cause a high toll in mortality due to indoor air pollution that causes many acute and chronic pulmonary diseases. As many as 14% of urban households and 49% of rural households in the developing world did not have access to electricity in 2000. Developments in solar energy systems have not reached the stage that could take advantage of the relatively isolated regions where most developing countries are located, in order to produce affordable and efficient solar cells that can meet energy demand. However, recent developments in nanotechnology and fabrication methods are likely to improve the efficiency and affordability of solar energy systems to make them implementable in circumstances beyond highprofile applications. A variety of photovoltaic solar cell devices are at the research stage, although scale-up systems that convert more than 30% of incident sunlight into electricity would still be expensive. Among the promising materials for solar cells are nanometer-sized semiconductor crystals, dye-sensitized solar cells, lead selenide PbSe nanocrystals, and cadmium selenide CdSe nanocrystals. As more activities and instruments are extended to extreme environments such as space, deep sea, deserts, forests, Arctic zones, Antarctic zones, caves, and deep mines, remoteaccess equipment needs more efficient power sources that need little or no network connections. Improvements in battery and fuel-cell systems are needed. For some functions, such as the use of numerous but isolated sensors to monitor many environmental parameters in remote environments, appropriatelysized and efficient battery and fuel-cell systems are needed. In a bidirectional advance, microsensors, some of which are based on enzymes, are used to develop fuel cells for small devices while larger fuel cells are being developed to support wind energy systems. An acceleration of technological advances in energy systems is needed to support many sustainable development projects. In order to be sustainable, it is important that policymakers and technology developers seek the optimization of the three pillars of sustainable development economic development, environmental equity, and social equity with specification of minimum acceptable levels of each factor rather than seeking to maximize any of the factors to the detriment of others. The principal categories of options that are available for promoting the implementation of promising systems and technologies are engineering, communication/education, regulation, enforcement, market incentives, environmental management systems, and international cooperation.

A novel method for the rapid fabrication of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) microfluidic chips using poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) templates has been demonstrated. The PDMS molds were fabricated by soft lithography. The dense prepolymerized solution of methyl methacrylate containing thermal and UV initiators was allowed to polymerized between a PDMS template and a piece of a 1 mm thick commercial PMMA plate under a UV lamp. The images of microchannels on the PDMS template were precisely replicated into the synthesized PMMA substrates during the UV-initiated polymerization of the prepolymerized solution on the surface of the PMMA plate at room temperature. The polymerization could be completed within 10 min under ambient temperature. The chips were subsequently assembled by thermal bonding of the channel plate and the cover sheet. The new fabrication method obviates the need for specialized replication equipment and reduces the complexity of prototyping and manufacturing. Nearly 20 PMMA chips were replicated using a single PDMS mold. The attractive performance of the new microfluidic chips has been demonstrated by separating and detecting cations in connection with contactless conductivity detection. The fabricated PMMA microchip has also been successfully employed for the determination of potassium and sodium in environmental and biological samples.

: DoD faces significant challenges in delivering promising new technologies to service members quickly and cost-effectively. To better understand DOD's technology adoption challenges, we review the technology diffusion literature to identify factors associated with successful and unsuccessful technology adoption processes, conduct case studies of DoD's advanced technology programs and propose a conceptual technology adoption model. The literature review identifies three overarching factors reflecting the complexities of defense technology adoption: benefit-cost uncertainty, organizational externalities, and direct and indirect network externalities. Technology adoption clearly involves benefit and cost uncertainties. Organizational externalities arise because there are typically multiple stakeholders from different DoD constituencies. Direct and indirect network externalities reflect the joint and interrelated nature of defense technologies on the battlefield. A closer look at one of DoD's advanced technology development programs indicates that success factors in this program generally parallel the results of the literature survey: the importance of benefit-cost uncertainty, management commitment (organizational externalities), technology champion (network externalities) and the prospects for future technology transfer (network externalities). Finally, we present conceptual technology adoption models incorporating benefit-cost uncertainty, organizational externalities and network externalities. These models can explain the diffusion patterns observed in the defense department: no adoption, full adoption, and partial adoption/de-adoption.