High Performance Three‐Dimensional Chemical Sensor Platform Using Reduced Graphene Oxide Formed on High Aspect‐Ratio Micro‐Pillars

The sensing performance of chemical sensors can be achieved not only by modification or hybridization of sensing materials but also through new design in device geometry. The performance of a chemical sensing device can be enhenced from a simple three‐dimensional (3D) chemiresistor‐based gas sensor platform with an increased surface area by forming networked, self‐assembled reduced graphene oxide (R‐GO) nanosheets on 3D SU8 micro‐pillar arrays. The 3D R‐GO sensor is highly responsive to low concentration of ammonia (NH₃) and nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) diluted in dry air at room temperature. Compared to the two‐dimensional planar R‐GO sensor structure, as the result of the increase in sensing area and interaction cross‐section of R‐GO on the same device area, the 3D R‐GO gas sensors show improved sensing performance with faster response (about 2%/s exposure), higher sensitivity, and even a possibly lower limit of detection towards NH₃ at room temperature.     

Surface topography and surface chemistry of radiation‐patterned P(tBuMA)—analysis by atomic force microscopy

Poly‐(tert‐butyl methacrylate) (P(tBuMA)) thin‐film surfaces were patterned by UV radiation at doses in the range 10–100 mJ cm^?2, in order to induce laterally differentiated surface chemistry with µm resolution. The most likely pathway for the radiation chemistry predicts a transition from hydrophobicity to hydrophilicity. Outcomes of analysis by atomic force microscopy under air ambient conditions were consistent with that prediction. Topographic and lateral force imaging, in combination with friction loop analysis, revealed shrinkage and increased friction arising from exposure. Force versus distance analysis revealed greater adhesion in hydrophilic regions, due to greater meniscus force acting on the tip. The thickness of adsorbed moisture, increased by a factor of 2.5 from ca 0.8 nm for the unirradiated surface, as a result of greater hydrophilicity induced by radiation. The latter observation shows that the increased friction was due principally to the greater normal force on the tip from an additional meniscus force. Copyright © 2003 Society of Chemical Industry     

Determination of fruit origin by using 26S rDNA fingerprinting of yeast communities by PCR–DGGE: preliminary application to Physalis fruits from Egypt

The determination of geographical origin is a demand of the traceability system of import–export food products. One hypothesis for tracing the source of a product is by global analysis of the microbial communities of the food and statistical linkage of this analysis to the geographical origin of the food. For this purpose, a molecular technique employing 26S rDNA profiles generated by PCR–DGGE was used to detect the variation in yeast community structures of three species of Physalis fruit (Physalis ixocarpa Brat, Physalis pubescens L, Physalis pruinosa L) from four Egyptian regions (Qalyoubia, Minufiya, Beheira and Alexandria Governments). When the 26S rDNA profiles were analysed by multivariate analysis, distinct microbial communities were detected. The band profiles of Physalis yeasts from different Governments were specific for each location and could be used as a bar code to discriminate the origin of the fruits. This method is a new traceability tool which provides fruit products with a unique biological bar code and makes it possible to trace back the fruits to their original location. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Substrate issues for the growth of mercury cadmium telluride

Close lattice matching and lattice compatibility with mercury cadmium telluride (MCT) make CdTe and related alloys ideal substrate materials for growth of MCT layers for the purpose of making high-performance second-generation infrared detectors. However, the limitations in the properties of CdTe and the difficulties in its bulk growth have prompted extensive research in the area of alternative substrates. Some basic relevant characteristics of substrates such as sapphire, GaAs, and silicon are compared and the possibilities and problems associated with each material are analyzed in the light of the most recent results in the field.     

Effect of the lactoperoxidase system against three major causal agents of disease in mangoes

The antibacterial activity of the lactoperoxidase system (LPS) on the growth of Xanthomonas campestris, the causal agent of bacterial black spot in mangoes, Botryodiplodia theobromae, the causal agent of stem-end rot disease in mangoes, and Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, the causal agent of anthracnose disease in mangoes, was determined during culture at 30 degrees C and at several pH values (4.5, 5.5, and 6.5). When the results of using the LPS were compared with those from control cultures without the LPS reagents, the growth of the three microorganisms was totally inhibited in all of the conditions tested. Viability tests enumerating cultivable cells of X. campestris showed that the LPS had a bactericidal effect, whatever the pH value. This effect is faster at pH 5.5, corroborating the results reported in the literature (optimal pH for the LPS efficiency). Further, we proved that hydrogen peroxide alone had little inhibition effect on the growth of the microorganisms studied. This compound is essentially used to convert thiocyanate into hypothiocyanate during the lactoperoxidase reaction. The potential of the LPS for the postharvest treatment of the fruits for controlling microbial diseases was thus demonstrated. Nevertheless, further studies are needed on fresh fruits before envisaging any application.     

Response of plasma fibronectin to major body burn

The ability of macrophages of phagocytize particulate matter is largely dependent on fibronectin, a nonspecific opsonin found in plasma. Fibronectin depletion, resulting in reticuloendothelial system (RES) depression, occurs following a variety of physical insults. RES depression may contribute to postinjury sequelae such as respiratory distress syndrome and septicemia. Fibronectin concentration was measured in the plasma of sheep with chronic lung lymph fistulas subjected to controlled thermal injury. Fibronectin levels were significantly (p < 0.05) decreased at 4, 24, 48, and 72 hours following burning. Fibronectin concentration decreased in parallel with serum albumin concentration; serum globulin concentrations did not decrease. Fibronectin concentration had an inverse relationship to lung lymph flow, a reflection of pulmonary transvascular fluid filtration rate. The role of fibronectin in the pathogenesis of postinjury respiratory distress syndrome deserves further exploration.     

A new approach for development of quadruped robot based on biological concepts

This paper proposes the design and development results of a new quadruped robot. The proposed new quadruped robot has a couple of advantages of flexible locomotion. The quadruped robot is designed and modeled based on a new concept that is the structure model with three segments of quadruped legs. New leg configuration with the simplified operation of four hip actuators is introduced. The posture of the new quadruped robot is more similar to the posture of dog than that of the previous quadruped robots. The objective of this paper is to develop a quadruped robot, which can walk and run in a trot gait with a simple PID controller. Numerical simulation and experimental results are shown to prove the locomotion performance of the proposed controller for the proposed quadruped robot.