Integratable non-clogging microconcentrator based on counter-flow principle for continuous enrichment of CaSki cells sample

This study addresses the need to reduce the risk of clogging when preparing samples for cell concentration, i.e., the CaSki Cell-lines (epidermoid cervical carcinoma cells). Aiming to develop a non-clogging microconcentrator, we proposed a new counter-flow concentration unit characterized by the directions of penetrating flows being at an obtuse angle to the main flow, due to employment of streamlined turbine blade-like micropillars. Based on the optimization results of the counter-flow unit profile, a fractal arrangement for the counter-flow concentration unit was developed. A counter-flow microconcentrator chip was then designed and fabricated, with both the processing layer and collecting layer arranged in terms of the honeycomb structure. Visualized experiments using CaSki cell samples on the microconcentrator chip demonstrated that no cell-clogging phenomena occurred during the test and that no cells were found in the final filtrate. The test results show an excellent concentration performance for the microconcentrator chip, while a concentrating ratio of >4 with the flow rate being below 1.0 ml/min. As only geometrical structure is employed in the passive device, the counter-flow microconcentrator can be easily integrated into advanced microfluidic systems. Owing to the merit of non-clogging and continuous processing ability, the counter-flow microconcentrator is not only suitable for the sample preparation within biomedical field, but also applicable in water-particle separation.     

An empirical investigation of architectural prototyping

Architectural prototyping is the process of using executable code to investigate stakeholders’ software architecture concerns with respect to a system under development. Previous work has established this as a useful and cost-effective way of exploration and learning of the design space of a system and in addressing issues regarding quality attributes, architectural risks, and the problem of knowledge transfer and conformance. However, the actual industrial use of architectural prototyping has not been thoroughly researched so far. In this article, we report from three studies of architectural prototyping in practice. First, we report findings from an ethnographic study of practicing software architects. Secondly, we report from a focus group on architectural prototyping involving architects from four companies. And, thirdly, we report from a survey study of 20 practicing software architects and software developers. Our findings indicate that architectural prototyping plays an important and frequent role in resolving problems experimentally, but less so in exploring alternative solutions. Furthermore, architectural prototypes include end-user or business related functionality rather than purely architectural functionality. Based on these observations we provide recommendations for effective industrial architectural prototyping.     

On notions of regularity for data languages

With motivation from considerations in XML database theory and model checking, data strings have been introduced as an extension of finite alphabet strings which carry, at each position, a symbol and a data value from an infinite domain. Previous work has shown that it is difficult to come up with an expressive yet decidable automaton model for data languages. Recently, such a model, data automata, was introduced. This paper introduces a simpler but equivalent model and investigates its expressive power, algorithmic and closure properties, and some extensions.     

Design and implementation of the Node Identity Internetworking Architecture

The Internet Protocol (IP) has been proven very flexible, being able to accommodate all kinds of link technologies and supporting a broad range of applications. The basic principles of the original Internet architecture include end-to-end addressing, global routeability and a single namespace of IP addresses that unintentionally serves both as locators and host identifiers. The commercial success and widespread use of the Internet have lead to new requirements, which include Internetworking over business boundaries, mobility and multi-homing in an untrusted environment. Our approach to satisfy these new requirements is to introduce a new Internetworking layer, the node identity layer. Such a layer runs on top of the different versions of IP, but could also run directly on top of other kinds of network technologies, such as MPLS and 2G/3G PDP contexts. This approach enables connectivity across different communication technologies, supports mobility, multi-homing, and security from ground up. This paper describes the Node Identity Architecture in detail and discusses the experiences from implementing and running a prototype.     

Integrated micro Pirani gauge based hermetical package monitoring for uncooled VO x bolometer FPAs

This paper presents the design and fabrication of a micro Pirani gauge using VO _x as the sensitive material for monitoring the pressure inside a hermetical package for micro bolometer focal plane arrays (FPAs). The designed Pirani gauge working in heat dissipating mode was intentionally fabricated using standard MEMS processing which is highly compatible with the FPAs fabrication. The functional layer of the micro Pirani gauge is a VO _x thin film designed as a 100 × 200 μm pixel, suspended 2 μm above the substrate. By modeling of rarefied gas heat conduction using the Extended Fourier’s law, finite element analysis is used to investigate the sensitivity of the pressure gauge. Also the thermal interactions between the micro Pirani gauge and bolometer FPAs are verified. From the fabricated prototype, the measured device TCR is about −0.8% K⁻¹ and the sensitivity about 1.84 × 10⁻³ W K⁻¹ mbar⁻¹.     

A boundary value problem for the KdV equation: Comparison of finite-difference and Chebyshev methods

Solutions of a boundary value problem for the Korteweg–de Vries equation are approximated numerically using a finite-difference method, and a collocation method based on Chebyshev polynomials. The performance of the two methods is compared using exact solutions that are exponentially small at the boundaries. The Chebyshev method is found to be more efficient.     

Changes in the amount and structure of motor variability during a deboning process are associated with work experience and neck-shoulder discomfort

In this field study, the size and structure of kinematics variability were assessed in relation to experience and discomfort during a deboning task. Eighteen workers divided in groups with low/high experience and with/without neck-shoulder discomfort participated. Standard deviation and coefficient of variation (amount of variability), as well as approximate entropy and sample entropy (complexity) and, correlation dimension (dimensionality) were computed for head-shoulder, shoulder-hip and elbow-hip displacement in the vertical direction. A longer work experience was associated with shorter work cycle duration and decreased amount of variability while complexity increased for the head-shoulder displacement, P < 0.05. Shorter work cycle, lower amount of variability and, lower dimensionality for the head-shoulder displacement were found in relation to discomfort, P < 0.05. While the amount of variability, complexity and dimensionality increased for the elbow-hip displacement, P < 0.05. These findings suggest a functional role of experience via learning effects and discomfort through compensatory mechanisms on the size and structure of motor variability.     

Computer and Smartphone Continuance Intention: A Motivational Model

This paper develops and tests a motivational model to explain the overall continuance intention to use computers and smartphones. Based on survey data from 192 undergraduate students, structural equation modeling analysis is used to report: (1) the independent effect of intrinsic motivation on the continuance intention to use computers and smartphones; (2) the independent effect of extrinsic motivation on the continuance intention to use computers but not smartphones; (3) intrinsic motivation mediating the effect of extrinsic motivation on the continuance intention to use computers; (4) the independent effect of technology cognizance on the continuance intention to use computers but not smartphones; (5) intrinsic motivation positively influencing extrinsic motivation and technology cognizance, with respect to both devices. This research contributes to an improved understanding of the independent and interrelated effects of intrinsic and extrinsic motivations to use technological devices. The findings have important implications for theory and practice regarding the overall use of technology.     

Nonlinear state estimation for rigid-body motion with low-pass sensors

In this paper, we consider the state estimation problem for the nonlinear kinematic equations of a rigid body observed under low-pass sensors. The problem is motivated from a walking robot application where inclinometers and gyros are the sensors used. We show that a non-local high gain observer exists for the nonlinear rigid-body kinematic equations and that it under a small angle assumption is possible to use one inclinometer only to estimate two angles.     

tweezercalib 2.0: Faster version of MatLab package for precise calibration of optical tweezers

We present a vectorized version of the MatLab (MathWorks Inc.) package tweezercalib for calibration of optical tweezers with precision. The calibration is based on the power spectrum of the Brownian motion of a dielectric bead trapped in the tweezers. Precision is achieved by accounting for a number of factors that affect this power spectrum, as described in vs. 1 of the package [I.M. Toli?-Nørrelykke, K. Berg-Sørensen, H. Flyvbjerg, Matlab program for precision calibration of optical tweezers, Comput. Phys. Comm. 159 (2004) 225-240]. The graphical user interface allows the user to include or leave out each of these factors. Several “health tests” are applied to the experimental data during calibration, and test results are displayed graphically. Thus, the user can easily see whether the data comply with the theory used for their interpretation. Final calibration results are given with statistical errors and covariance matrix.

New version program summary

Title of program: tweezercalibCatalogue identifier: ADTV_v2_0Program summary URL:http://cpc.cs.qub.ac.uk/summaries/ADTV_v2_0Program obtainable from: CPC Program Library, Queen's University of Belfast, N. IrelandReference in CPC to previous version: I.M. Toli?-Nørrelykke, K. Berg-Sørensen, H. Flyvbjerg, Comput. Phys. Comm. 159 (2004) 225Catalogue identifier of previous version: ADTVDoes the new version supersede the original program: YesComputer for which the program is designed and others on which it has been tested: General computer running MatLab (Mathworks Inc.)Operating systems under with the program has been tested: Windows2000, Windows-XP, LinuxProgramming language used: MatLab (Mathworks Inc.), standard licenseMemory required to execute with typical data: Of order four times the size of the data fileHigh speed storage required: noneNo. of lines in distributed program, including test data, etc.: 135 989No. of bytes in distributed program, including test data, etc.: 1 527 611Distribution format: tar. gzNature of physical problem: Calibrate optical tweezers with precision by fitting theory to experimental power spectrum of position of bead doing Brownian motion in incompressible fluid, possibly near microscope cover slip, while trapped in optical tweezers. Thereby determine spring constant of optical trap and conversion factor for arbitrary-units-to-nanometers for detection system.Method of solution: Elimination of cross-talk between quadrant photo-diode's output channels for positions (optional). Check that distribution of recorded positions agrees with Boltzmann distribution of bead in harmonic trap. Data compression and noise reduction by blocking method applied to power spectrum. Full accounting for hydrodynamic effects: Frequency-dependent drag force and interaction with nearby cover slip (optional). Full accounting for electronic filters (optional), for “virtual filtering” caused by detection system (optional). Full accounting for aliasing caused by finite sampling rate (optional). Standard non-linear least-squares fitting. Statistical support for fit is given, with several plots facilitating inspection of consistency and quality of data and fit.Summary of revisions: A faster fitting routine, adapted from [J. Nocedal, Y.x. Yuan, Combining trust region and line search techniques, Technical Report OTC 98/04, Optimization Technology Center, 1998; W.H. Press, B.P. Flannery, S.A. Teukolsky, W.T. Vetterling, Numerical Recipes. The Art of Scientific Computing, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1986], is applied. It uses fewer function evaluations, and the remaining function evaluations have been vectorized. Calls to routines in Toolboxes not included with a standard MatLab license have been replaced by calls to routines that are included in the present package. Fitting parameters are rescaled to ensure that they are all of roughly the same size (of order 1) while being fitted. Generally, the program package has been updated to comply with MatLab, vs. 7.0, and optimized for speed.Restrictions on the complexity of the problem: Data should be positions of bead doing Brownian motion while held by optical tweezers. For high precision in final results, data should be time series measured over a long time, with sufficiently high experimental sampling rate: The sampling rate should be well above the characteristic frequency of the trap, the so-called corner frequency. Thus, the sampling frequency should typically be larger than 10 kHz. The Fast Fourier Transform used works optimally when the time series contain n² data points, and long measurement time is obtained with n>12-15. Finally, the optics should be set to ensure a harmonic trapping potential in the range of positions visited by the bead. The fitting procedure checks for harmonic potential.Typical running time: SecondsUnusual features of the program: NoneReferences: The theoretical underpinnings for the procedure are found in [K. Berg-Sørensen, H. Flyvbjerg, Power spectrum analysis for optical tweezers, Rev. Sci. Ins. 75 (2004) 594-612].