Coupled acoustic-shell model for experimental study of cell stiffness under acoustophoresis

Under the influence of acoustic radiation force, particles can be trapped and deformed at the pressure node in a microfluidic channel. Based on this principle, the elastic modulus of biological cells can be estimated. In this study, a numerical framework, consisting of a boundary element model for acoustic field and an axisymmetric shell model, is developed to simulate the cell deformation under acoustic radiation force. The boundary element model is used to calculate the radiation traction exerted on the cell surface. The cell membrane deformation due to this traction is simulated by using the axisymmetric shell model. The Young’s moduli of algae and red blood cell membranes are then estimated by comparing the experimental observation with the simulated membrane deformation. It is found that the value of Young’s modulus of the red blood cell membrane is lower than that of algae cell membrane. Furthermore, for both cells, the estimated Young’s moduli are negligible compared to the bulk moduli of the cells reported in the previous studies.     

Synthesis and characterization of solid-phase super acid catalysts and their application for isomerization of n-alkanes

In the present work, first, the reference catalyst super acidic nanostructured sulfated zirconia (SZ) and super acidic nanostructured aluminum chloride impregnated sulfated zirconium oxides in mole ratios of Zr⁴⁺:Al³⁺ as 2:1 (ACSZ-1), 1:1 (ACSZ-2), and 1:2 (ACSZ-3) were synthesized by a simple precipitation method. The catalytic performance of these four catalysts were evaluated during the isomerization of n-hexane, n-heptane, and n-octane to their corresponding branched chain isomers at low temperature and pressure conditions. ACSZ-2 shows high activity toward isomerization of n-hexane, n-heptane, and n-octane into their corresponding branched chain isomers. The reference catalyst SZ was proved to be less effective compare to the other three synthesized ACSZ catalysts. Ammonia-temperature-programmed desorption of these two materials ensures that the super acidity of ACSZ-2 is higher than that of SZ. Atomic force microscopic and scanning electron microscopic pictures predict the nature of the surface of the catalysts. Transmission electron micrographic analysis indicates the presence of particle-bulks having average size 12–20?nm, presenting an amorphous nature and having no definite surface morphology of ACSZ-2. Fourier transform infrared provides an outline regarding different linkages and bond connectivities between atoms and groups in ACSZ-2 and SZ. After catalyst evaluation and characterization a probable reaction mechanism has been proposed theoretically. The reactivity and selectivity of ACSZ-2 and SZ as well as the order and activation energy of the isomerization reactions in presence of ACSZ-2 have been calculated. The use of ACSZ-2 is beneficial from the point of cost efficiency as well as its use is energy saving.     

Integrated energy performance modeling for a retail store building

This paper presents an integrated energy performance modeling approach that considers heat and mass transfer through building envelope, HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) and refrigeration systems of a retail store building with limited measured data. The internal heat gains/losses were estimated based on an Extended Kalman Filter. The simulation coupling strategy among room top units (RTUs), refrigeration display cases and zones is based on the ping-pong coupling strategy. The integrated model was validated against measured data from June to August, 2011. The results show that temperature prediction is within the ±1.5°C error band and the RTU electricity energy use prediction is within the ±10% error band. The difference between measured and simulated annual electricity consumption from the refrigeration system is 3%. Based on further analysis and diagnostics, deviations of model predictions from measured data were found to be partially due to the faults in the RTUs. Such deviation accounts for a 4% saving of the total building electrical energy consumption.     

Consumer Attention to an Over‐the‐counter Warning in Four Different Styles of Design

The study consisted of three objectives: (a) to test the relative prominence and conspicuousness of a warning required by US law to be conspicuous; (b) to explore whether or not the conspicuousness of the said warning can be enhanced graphically; and (c) to develop preliminary data for power analysis that would guide decisions related to sample size in future studies. Seventeen subjects viewed four over‐the‐counter drug packages (each with a different style of warning) along with five other products while wearing an eye tracking device. Four styles of warning were used on the over‐the‐counter drug packages: no outline and no fill, outline and no fill, no outline and fill, and outline and fill. The surface area and the placement of the warnings were held constant across all four designs and were consistent with those on commercially available products. Collected data were broken into five zones: warning, brand name, strength, product benefit and net weight. Despite the fact that US law requires it to be conspicuous, the tested warning was significantly less noticeable than the brand name (objective one) for all dependent variables analyzed (α = 0.05). No significant difference was indicated for the varied warning designs (objective two). This could be because not much can be done to enhance prominence when constrained to the limited space that is typically used for such warnings or because of the limited sample size. Power calculations suggest that a sample size of nearly 200 subjects would be required to detect a 2.5 s mean difference at 80% confidence (objective three). Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Modeling without categorical variables: a mixed-integer nonlinear program for the optimization of thermal insulation systems

Optimal design applications are often modeled by using categorical variables to express discrete design decisions, such as material types. A disadvantage of using categorical variables is the lack of continuous relaxations, which precludes the use of modern integer programming techniques. We show how to express categorical variables with standard integer modeling techniques, and we illustrate this approach on a load-bearing thermal insulation system. The system consists of a number of insulators of different materials and intercepts that minimize the heat flow from a hot surface to a cold surface. Our new model allows us to employ black-box modeling languages and solvers and illustrates the interplay between integer and nonlinear modeling techniques. We present numerical experience that illustrates the advantage of the standard integer model.     

Conduction studies on Ta2O5 layer under different metallic electrodes

Rectification studies on Ta₂O₅ anodic oxide layers with vacuum-deposited Au, Ag, Pb, Bi, Sb contacts have been made. No correlation between critical voltage and work function for metal electrodes was found. Non-uniform and unpredictable behaviour of Ta₂O₅ films under different metals have indicated the dominant dependence of conduction on the flaw density in the oxide film.     

Comparison of the TSI Model 3306 Impactor Inlet with the Andersen Cascade Impactor: solution metered dose inhalers

The product performance of a series of solution Metered Dose Inhalers (MDIs) were evaluated using the TSI Model 3306 Impactor Inlet and the Andersen Cascade Impactor (ACI). The goal of the study was to test whether the fine particle and coarse particle depositions obtained using the Model 3306 were comparable to those results obtained by ACI testing. The analysis using the Model 3306 was performed as supplied by the manufacturer as well as with 20 cm and 40 cm vertical extensions that were inserted between the Model 3306 and the USP Inlet. Nine different solution formulations were evaluated. The drug concentrations ranged from 0.08 to 0.8% w/w and the ethanol cosolvent concentration varied between 5 and 20% w/w. In general, it was found that good correlations between the two instruments were obtained. However, for formulations containing 10-20% w/w ethanol it is shown that an extension fitted to the Model 3306 yielded an improved correlation to those obtained from the ACI.     

An address assignment for the automatic configuration of mobile ad hoc networks

Mobile ad hoc networks (MANETs) are infrastructure-less, multi-hop wireless networks, which can be deployed without any pre-existing setup. MANETs are mobile in nature and any node can join and leave the network at any time. Due to mobility, MANETs must be able to configure themselves without human intervention. Configuration (such as address assignment) of a node in such a network is an important issue. In this paper, we present a solution for address assignment, which is distributed in nature and can be used for IP address configuration in MANETs. Each node can allocate the address independent of others. Although our solution uses broadcast messages, results show that by fixing a few parameter values we can reduce the number of broadcast messages. We simulate the protocol and results show that our solution yields better performance those of the earlier algorithms.

Transient behaviour of a non-ideal tubular reactor

Experimental data are reported for the unsteady state behaviour of a laminar flow reactor with first order homogeneous liquid phase reaction. The data are in agreement with the predictions of the dispersion model, using previously reported reaction-dependent dispersion coefficients which directly gives the bulk mean concentration. The use of proper boundary conditions, ignored in a recent paper on this topic⁽¹⁹⁾, is found to significantly influence the predictions. Unlike the conclusion drawn in⁽¹⁹⁾ it is shown that the Taylor model is unable to correctly predict the reactor length for fast reactions even for high conversions.