Comprehensive Performance Analysis of ZigBee Technology Based on Real Measurements

Although the ZigBee technology is massively deployed the performance question still remains unanswered. There is a lack of serious performance evaluations and thus this paper provides a comprehensive and unbiased study of the ZigBee PRO technology. An extensive real measurement was conducted to accomplish this task. We found out a big performance gap among ZigBee implementations even though they are compliant with the ZigBee standard. The presented results and analysis could be beneficial for many wireless sensor network developers.     

Optical and electrical characterization of a gold nanoparticle dispersion in a chiral liquid crystal matrix

We report on the effect of gold nanoparticle (Au NP) dispersion in a chiral nematic liquid crystal (LC). Polarized optical microscopy and X-ray diffraction measurements evidence the insurgence of an order change in the LC host. Moreover, a comparative analysis based on dielectric and voltammetric spectroscopies performed on pure LC and on Au NP-doped LC shows that Au NP’s presence besides affecting LC order influences its electric properties: ion conductivity results importantly reduced, and beyond a threshold value of the applied field electrophoresis phenomena are induced.     

Demonstration and characterization of biomolecular enrichment on microfluidic aptamer-functionalized surfaces

This paper demonstrates and systematically characterizes the enrichment of biomolecular compounds using aptamer-functionalized surfaces within a microfluidic device. The device consists of a microchamber packed with aptamer-functionalized microbeads and integrated with a microheater and temperature sensor to enable thermally controlled binding and release of biomolecules by the aptamer. We first present an equilibrium binding-based analytical model to understand the enrichment process. The characteristics of the aptamer-analyte binding and enrichment are then experimentally studied, using adenosine monophosphate (AMP) and a specific RNA aptamer as a model system. The temporal process of AMP binding to the aptamer is found to be primarily determined by the aptamer-AMP binding kinetics. The temporal process of aptamer-AMP dissociation at varying temperatures is also obtained and observed to occur relatively rapidly (<2 s). The specificity of the enrichment is next confirmed by performing selective enrichment of AMP from a sample containing biomolecular impurities. Finally, we investigate the enrichment of AMP by either discrete or continuous introduction of a dilute sample into the microchamber, demonstrating enrichment factors ranging from 566 to 686×, which agree with predictions of the analytical model.     

Silicone membranes to inhibit water uptake into thermoset polyurethane shape‐memory polymer conductive composites

Electroactive shape memory polymer (SMP) composites capable of shape actuation via resistive heating are of interest for various biomedical applications. However, water uptake into SMPs will produce a depression of the glass transition temperature (T_g) resulting in shape recovery in vivo. While water actuated shape recovery may be useful, it is foreseen to be undesirable during early periods of surgical placement into the body. Silicone membranes have been previously reported to prevent release of conductive filler from an electroactive polymer composite in vivo. In this study, a silicone membrane was used to inhibit water uptake into a thermoset SMP composite containing conductive filler. Thermoset polyurethane SMPs were loaded with either 5 wt % carbon black or 5 wt % carbon nanotubes, and subsequently coated with either an Al₂O₃‐ or silica‐filled silicone membrane. It was observed that the silicone membranes, particularly the silica‐filled membrane, reduced the rate of water absorption (37°C) and subsequent T_g depression versus uncoated composites. In turn, this led to a reduction in the rate of recovery of the permanent shape when exposed to water at 37°C. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 41226.     

Developing and Maintaining an Inspection-Ready Pipeline Safety Program

For the past several decades, pipeline incidents have resulted in highly publicized accounts of property damage, environmental harm, neighborhood destruction, serious injury, and death.     

Activity of Fluorine‐Containing Analogues of WC‐9 and Structurally Related Analogues against Two Intracellular Parasites: Trypanosoma cruzi and Toxoplasma gondii

Two obligate intracellular parasites, Trypanosoma cruzi, the agent of Chagas disease, and Toxoplasma gondii, an agent of toxoplasmosis, upregulate the mevalonate pathway of their host cells upon infection, which suggests that this host pathway could be a potential drug target. In this work, a number of compounds structurally related to WC‐9 (4‐phenoxyphenoxyethyl thiocyanate), a known squalene synthase inhibitor, were designed, synthesized, and evaluated for their effect on T. cruzi and T. gondii growth in tissue culture cells. Two fluorine‐containing derivatives, the 3‐(3‐fluorophenoxy)‐ and 3‐(4‐fluorophenoxy)phenoxyethyl thiocyanates, exhibited half‐maximal effective concentration (EC₅₀) values of 1.6 and 4.9 μm , respectively, against tachyzoites of T. gondii, whereas they showed similar potency to WC‐9 against intracellular T. cruzi (EC₅₀ values of 5.4 and 5.7 μm , respectively). In addition, 2‐[3‐ (phenoxy)phenoxyethylthio]ethyl‐1,1‐bisphosphonate, which is a hybrid inhibitor containing 3‐phenoxyphenoxy and bisphosphonate groups, has activity against T. gondii proliferation at sub‐micromolar levels (EC₅₀=0.7 μm ), which suggests a combined inhibitory effect of the two functional groups.