Hydrophilic polycarbonate chips for generation of oil-in-water (O/W) and water-in-oil-in-water (W/O/W) emulsions

Modification of the surfaces of polycarbonate (PC) with the use of a solution of tin (II) chloride renders them hydrophilic. The surface draping is stable against exposure to water and to alcohols. Exposure to alkanes reduces but does not diminish the effect. The method is compatible—in using the same solvent and temperature—with the hydrophobic modification of PC (Jankowski et al. in Lab Chip 11:1151–1156, 2011). The combination of these methods makes it possible to generate single and multiple monodisperse emulsions with the use of flow-focusing junctions in systems made in PC—a material that is suitable for fabrication of multilayer, high-throughput microfluidic devices.     

Hydrophilic polycarbonate chips for generation of oil-in-water (O/W) and water-in-oil-in-water (W/O/W) emulsions

Modification of the surfaces of polycarbonate (PC) with the use of a solution of tin (II) chloride renders them hydrophilic. The surface draping is stable against exposure to water and to alcohols. Exposure to alkanes reduces but does not diminish the effect. The method is compatible—in using the same solvent and temperature—with the hydrophobic modification of PC Jankowski et al. ( Lab Chip 11:748–752, 2011). The combination of these methods makes it possible to generate single and multiple monodisperse emulsions with the use of flow-focusing junctions in systems made in PC—material that is suitable for fabrication of multilayer, high throughput microfluidic devices.     

Low-latency atomic broadcast in the presence of contention

The Atomic Broadcast algorithm described in this paper can deliver messages in two communication steps, even if multiple processes broadcast at the same time. It tags all broadcast messages with the local real time, and delivers all messages in the order of these timestamps. Both positive and negative statements are used: “m broadcast at time 51” vs. “no messages broadcast between times 31 and 51”. To prevent crashed processes from blocking the system, the -elected leader broadcasts negative statements on behalf of the processes it suspects () to have crashed. A new cheap Generic Broadcast algorithm is used to ensure consistency between conflicting statements. It requires only a majority of correct processes (n > 2f) and, in failure-free runs, delivers all non-conflicting messages in two steps. The main algorithm satisfies several new lower bounds, which are proved in this paper.     

An analytical model for manufacturing service supply contracts

The practice of service-based manufacturing, utilized in various industries, particularly in electronics, pharmaceuticals, and automotive, is on the rise as it improves enterprise effectiveness in dynamic markets. The mutual responsibilities between the supplier(s) and user(s) of such services are spelled out in defined-time-horizon contracts. While such contracts define mutual obligations of both parties on a tactical/operational level, the long-term strategic objectives of the parties may be in conflict. This paper is focused on studying the dynamics of manufacturing service contracts. It investigates the factors affecting the shape of the negotiation space for such contracts and also the way the space should be navigated in response to changing market conditions. The paper presents an analytical framework developed to facilitate behavior analysis of the actors involved in the contract.     

A bio-inspired predictive sensory-motor coordination scheme for robot reaching and preshaping

This paper presents a sensory-motor coordination scheme for a robot hand-arm-head system that provides the robot with the capability to reach an object while pre-shaping the fingers to the required grasp configuration and while predicting the tactile image that will be perceived after grasping. A model for sensory-motor coordination derived from studies in humans inspired the development of this scheme. A peculiar feature of this model is the prediction of the tactile image. The implementation of the proposed scheme is based on a neuro-fuzzy module that, after a learning phase, starting from visual data, calculates the position and orientation of the hand for reaching, selects the best-suited hand configuration, and predicts the tactile feedback. The implementation of the scheme on a humanoid robot allowed experimental validation of its effectiveness in robotics and provided perspectives on applications of sensory predictions in robot motor control.     

On problems of multicomponent system maintenance modelling

We present an overview of some recent developments in the area of mathematical modeling of maintenance decisions for multi-unit systems. The emphasis is on three main groups of multicomponent maintenance optimization models： the block replacement models, group maintenance models, and opportunistic maintenance models. Moreover, an example of a two-unit system maintenance process is provided in order to compare various maintenance policies.     

Ion-bombardment modification of surface morphology of solids

Ion bombardment modification of surface geometrical structure, i.e. surface roughness alteration (Part 1) and changes in surface shape (this paper) are considered. Two surface shape alteration methods, masked and maskless pattern etching, are described. They have been applied to modify various kinds of targets, including metals (99.9% aluminium and 99.9% titanium), metal alloys (stainless steel of 1H18N9T and SS 316 LC), alumina ceramic (96% Al₂O₃) and Teflon. The results of experiments, where narrow beam glow discharge (GD) and broad beam Kaufman type guns have been used as ion sources, are presented. Approximation of a real surface shape profile by a so-called mean line, which is very helpful in the case of ion patterned but extremely rough surfaces, is also discussed. Finally, the practical aspects of ion bombardment modification of surface shape phenomenon, i.e. its application to sputtering yield and sputtering velocity measurements, are shown.     

On the robust control of nonlinear systems

In this paper we consider robust stabilization of the class of nonlinear plants of the form $$\dot x = f(x) + \sum\limits_{i = 1}^m {g_i } (x)u_i (t),$$ which are equivalent, under smooth state space coordinate transformations and nonlinear state feedback, to controllable systems. This approach is very sensitive for unknown parameters' values. Parameter adaptation may be used as a technique to robustify minimum-phase systems [3]. We give an example of a locally stable adaptive tracking system in which the last assumption is weakened. The minimum-phase plant considered in the paper is a current-controlled squirrel cage induction motor.     

Casein kinase 2 down-regulation and activation by polybasic peptides are mediated by acidic residues in the 55-64 region of the beta-subunit. A study with calmodulin as phosphorylatable substrate

The noncatalytic beta-subunit is responsible for the latency of casein kinase 2 (CK2) activity toward calmodulin. Twenty-one mutants of the beta-subunit bearing either deletions or Ala substitutions for charged residues in the 5-6, 55-70, and 171-178 sequences have been assayed for their ability to substitute for wild-type beta-subunit as a suppressor of activity toward calmodulin. The only mutations that reduced the ability of the beta-subunit to suppress calmodulin phosphorylation activity, though being compatible with normal reconstitution of CK2 holoenzyme, were those affecting Asp55, Glu57 and the whole triplet Glu59-Asp-Glu61. The activity of CK2 holoenzyme, either native or reconstituted, toward calmodulin can be elicited by a variety of polybasic effectors, including polylysine, polyarginine, salmine, and histones H4, H3, and, to a lesser extent, H2a and H2b. Histone H1 and polyamines are conversely ineffective. The latent "calmodulin kinase" activity of CK2 can also be specifically unmasked by a peptide (alpha[66-86]) reproducing a basic insert of the catalytic subunit. This effect is reversed by equimolar addition of a peptide (beta[55-71]) including the 55-64 acidic stretch of the beta-subunit. Comparable polylysine stimulation was observed with the holoenzymes reconstituted with either beta wt or the beta mutants capable of assembling with the alpha-subunit, with the notable exception of those bearing Ala substitutions for acidic residues at positions 55, 57, and 59-61. These were nearly insensitive to 42 nM polylysine, which conversely promotes a more than 10-fold increase of calmodulin phosphorylation with wild-type beta.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Optimization of output power in hollow-waveguide lasers

We present an approximate analysis of the nonlinear operation of the hollow-waveguide laser, including gain saturation and longitudinal- as well as transverse-field distribution of the laser mode. The model presented is general and can be applied to the study of an arbitrary configuration of the waveguide laser. The laser characteristics obtained reveal that the optimal position of the output mirror (which provides maximal power efficiency of the laser system with the other parameters constant) depends on the output-power level and the mirror-reflectivity coefficient. Moreover, it has been shown that when an addition device is introduced into the cavity, the power efficiency also depends on which end of the laser the light power is extracted from.