Dynamic cell fractionation and transportation using moving dielectrophoresis

This study presents a new cell manipulation method using a moving dielectrophoretic force to transport or fractionate cells along a microfluidic channel. The proposed moving dielectrophoresis (mDEP) is generated by sequentially energizing a single electrode or an array of electrodes to form an electric field that moves cells continuously along the microchannel. Cell fractionation is controlled by the applied electrical frequency, and cell transportation is controlled by the interelectrode activation time. The applicability of this method was demonstrated to simultaneously fractionate and transport Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast cells, both viable and nonviable, by operating at conditions under which the cells were subjected to positive and negative dielectrophoresis, respectively. Compared to the conventional dielectrophoresis (cDEP and traveling wave dielectrophoresis (twDEP), moving dielectrophoresis allows cells to be separated on the basis of the real part of the Clausius-Mossotti factor, as in cDEP, but yet allows the direct transportation of separated cells without using fluid flow, as in twDEP. This dielectrophoresis technique provides a new way to manipulate cells and can be readily implemented on programmable multielectrode devices.     

Two-dimensional analysis of the interdigited back-contact solar cell

Using two-dimensional computer analysis, the interdigited back contact silicon solar cell (IBC) was analyzed at high illumination levels and the results were compared with the conventional Front Junction cell. The change of effectiveness of Chockley-Read-Hall bulk and surface recombination centers at high currents as well as the induced internal electric field are argued to explain the improved efficiency predicted for IBC cells at high illumination levels. For a 100 μm cell thickness and lifetime τ_p0 = 10 μsec the efficiency is indicated to increase from 7.5% at 1 sun to 14.0% at 100 suns AMO, when a surface recombination velocity (s₀) equal to 1000 cm/sec is assumed. The substrate thickness to provide maximum efficiency was found to be approximately 50 μm. It is confirmed that the surface lifetime is a significant factor in determining the device conversion efficiency. Since surface recombination dominates the efficiency, a new IBC cell design with a front doping gradient has been introduced to suppress the surface recombination. The IBC cell with 10¹⁸/cm³ front surface n⁺-doping concentration is optimum for an impurity diffusion depth of 10 μm, s₀ = 1000 cm/sec, τ_p0 = 10 μsec, for which an efficiency of 12% is computed at 1 sum AMO. A useful efficiency of about 8% at 1 sun AMO, even with s₀ = 10⁵ cm/sec, is predicted with front doping.     

Tunable monolithic colliding pulse mode-locked quantum-well lasers

The tunabilities of both the wavelength and the pulse-width of monolithic mode-locked semiconductor lasers are demonstrated. Pulses shorter than 1.6 ps, tunable over 8.8 mu m, have been generated by a temperature-tuned monolithic colliding pulse mode-locked (CPM) quantum-well laser. For a fixed wavelength, the pulse-width is independently controlled from 1.2 ps to longer than 3 ps by external bandpass filters. Near transform-limited time-bandwidth products of 0.34 were maintained throughout the tuning processes.<>     

我国染整业的新一轮发展

Sincereformandopeningtotheoutsideworld,China'stextileindustryhasa chievedrapiddevelopment.Especiallyinrecentyears,wehavewitnessedsignif icantimprovementintermsofvolume,quality,varieties,efficiency,earningsofforeigncurrency,fiberconsumptionper capita,and…     

Strengths and weaknesses of finite element modeling deep hole drilling as compared with beam and column equations

Deep hole drilling has been studied mainly experimentally in the past. Recently, some theories using beam or column equations have been proposed, which involved complicated mathematical efforts. This work analyzed deep hole drilling by a finite element model (FEM). Results of modal analysis on the established FEM were compared with results from Euler beam equations. Further analysis showed that the FEM could also predict straightness deviation as did the column equation. In addition, FEM could analyze the effects of variable support distance which neither beam nor column equation could. Other analysis results are also presented. The results in this study showed the strength and weakness of the FEM.     

Formulation and Characterization of Novel Nanostructured Lipid Carriers with Photoprotective Properties Made from Carnauba Wax,Beeswax, Pumpkin Seed Oil,and UV Filters

Pumpkin seed oil (PSO) with carnauba wax and beeswax was used to develop nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC) loaded with a UV filter, Uvinul® A Plus B. The aims of the study were to optimize the concentration of PSO to develop a stable NLC formulation, determine storage stability of the NLC with and without PSO, and the synergistic effect of PSO-NLC with UV filter for photoprotective properties. The physical properties of NLC were optimized based on the mean particle size, polydispersity index, and storage stability. The optimized NLC consisted 10% lipid phase (3.5% carnauba wax, 3.5% beeswax, and 3.0% PSO) and 90% aqueous phase. After optimization, Uvinul® A Plus B was added in the optimized PSO-NLC to produce a photoprotective formulation. Uvinul® A Plus B consisted of both UVA (Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate) and UVB (Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate) filters. The NLC produced with PSO and Uvinul® A Plus B had mean particle size of 135 ± 2 nm and showed good physical stability under storage time. Besides that, the NLC produced also proven to have positive effect in enhancing the entrapment efficiency and drug loading, which were 82.86 ± 0.15% and 55.41 ± 0.04%, respectively, and showed sun protection factor value of 16.61 ± 3.45. The results indicated the presence of synergistic effect among the PSO-NLC with Uvinul® A Plus B.     

Mathematical model for the pultrusion of blocked PU–UP matrix composites

The thermokinetic behavior of blocked polyurethane (PU)–unsaturated polyester (UP)–based composites during the pultrusion of glass‐fiber‐reinforced composites was investigated utilizing a mathematical model that accounted for the heat transfer and heat generation during curing. The equations of continuity and energy balance, coupled with a kinetic expression for the curing system, were solved using a finite difference method to calculate the temperature profiles and conversion profiles in the thickness direction in a rectangular pultrusion die. A kinetic model, dP/dt = A exp(?E/RT)P^m(1 ? P)ⁿ, was proposed to describe the curing behavior of a blocked PU–UP resin. Kinetic parameters for the model were obtained from dynamic differential scanning calorimetry scans using a multiple regression technique, which was able to predict the effects of processing parameters on the pultrusion. The effects of processing parameters including pulling speed, die wall temperature, and die thickness on the performance of the pultrusion also were evaluated. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 90: 1996–2002, 2003     

SnO2 nanorod arrays: low temperature growth, surface modification and field emission properties

SnO(2) nanorod arrays have been deposited on 4 inch SiO(2)/Si and Si wafers and stainless steel substrates by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition without any high temperature treatment or additional catalysis. The SnO(2) nanorods grow up from seed nanocrystals along the [110] preferential direction by a self-catalyzed vapor-solid growth mechanism. The surface of the SnO(2) nanorods was modified by ZnO, Pt and Ni nanocrystals. After surface modification, the field emission properties of the SnO(2) nanorod arrays are improved. The Ni nanocrystal with sharp tips and edges act as additional field emission sites to SnO(2) nanorods and thus the Ni/SnO(2)/SiO(2)/Si outperforms other samples due to the synergistic effects of good conductivity and hierarchical sharp apexes. The field enhancement factor of the Ni/SnO(2)/SiO(2)/Si increased around 3 times while the turn-on field of 8.0 V μm(-1) is about one third of the SnO(2)/SiO(2)/Si device.     

Oxidative stability of palm‐ and soybean‐based medium‐ and long‐chain triacylglycerol (MLCT) oil blends

BACKGROUND: Medium‐ and long‐chain triacylglyerols (MLCT) enzymatically esterified using Lipozyme RM IM lipase has very low oxidative stability as it does not contain any antioxidants. The aim of this work was to study the ability of various antioxidants to increase the oxidative stability of palm‐ and soybean‐based MLCT blends which assist to bring up the oxidative stability of both MLCT blends. In this study, the effectiveness of rosemary extracts, sage extracts, tert‐butylhydroquinone (TBHQ) and mixtures of tert‐butyl‐4‐hydroxyanisole (BHA) and tert‐butyl‐p‐hydroxytoluene (BHT) in protecting against oxidation of various MLCT blends was investigated. RESULTS: Blending of MLCT oil with either palm olein or soybean oil improved its smoke point values and oxidative stability. TBHQ addition to both palm‐ and soybean‐based MLCT blends increased oxidative stability. Combination of BHA and BHT showed no significant improvement (P > 0.05) in ability to protect blends from oxidation compared to natural antioxidants such as sage or rosemary extracts. CONCLUSION: Blended oils with 500 g kg^?1 MLCT and 500 g kg^?1 palm olein (MP5) were the most suitable for use at high temperature based on the fatty acid composition of the MLCT blends, which subsequently had an effect on thermal oxidative stability. In general, addition of either natural or synthetic antioxidant assisted in improving the antioxidative strength of both MLCT blends. MLCT blends with added TBHQ showed the highest thermal oxidative stability among the antioxidants used. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry