RF MEMS continuous reversible variable inductor based on a microfluidic network

In this work, RF MEMS continuous reversible variable inductor has been fabricated by using microelectronic technology and lamination process. We review, evaluate and compare this variable inductor with other work. The proposed inductor is a dual circular coil and has an inductance of few nH. The fundamental idea is to place a liquid droplet between the metal turns of a coil in order to modify the capacitive/resistive coupling between metal tracks and hence to change the stored magnetic energy. The SU-8 resin was used to realize the microfluidic channels and Au as metallic tracks. To prove the reversibility of the inductor, two cases were studied: filling and emptying of channels. The tuning range of the inductance is approximately 107 % at 1.6 GHz, making these devices very suitable as building blocks in many RF applications.     

Effect of pH and zeta potential of Pickering stabilizing magnetite nanoparticles on the features of magnetized polystyrene microspheres

Styrene as a monomer was emulsified in water using several magnetite nanoparticles concentration and pH values. Emulsified styrene drops were used as templates for polymerization, in presence of water soluble free radical initiator, and formation of composite particles. Styrene template drops stabilization was verified by light as well as scanning electron microscopy imaging, which ensured the participation of the particles in building up a mechanical barrier to stop oil drops coalescence. Furthermore, the produced polystyrene composites were strongly attracted to an external magnet. The difference in particles size as a function of pH was elucidated using zeta potential measurements, which indicated dominance of pH on the hydrophilicity of the particles and consequently the extent of emulsification, which in turn affected the size of the obtained microspheres. Under some circumstances, capsules were formed instead of particles. Thereby, it can be concluded that the magnetic microspheres are optimally formed at pH 2.3 independently of the magnetite content used.     

Performance analysis of opportunistic nonregenerative relaying

Opportunistic relaying in cooperative communication depends on careful relay selection. However, the traditional centralized method used for opportunistic amplify‐and‐forward protocols requires precise measurements of channel state information at the destination. In this paper, we adopt the max–min criterion as a relay selection framework for opportunistic amplify‐and‐forward cooperative communications, which was exhaustively used for the decode‐and‐forward protocol, and offer an accurate performance analysis based on exact statistics of the local signal‐to‐noise ratios of the best relay. Furthermore, we evaluate the asymptotical performance and deduce the diversity order of our proposed scheme. Finally, we validate our analysis by showing that performance simulation results coincide with our analytical results over Rayleigh fading channels, and we compare the max–min relay selection with their centralized channel state information‐based and partial relay selection counterparts. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Engineering proteins, subcloning and hyperexpressing oxidoreductase genes

A very efficient system for subcloning and studying proteinsequences, combining previously established elements for hyperexpression,replication and screening, was used to hyperproduce and characterizeseven different products. It expedited the cloning of genes,in a multipurpose recombinant DNA construct, for all the requirementsto study and engineer proteins with a strain of Escherichiacoli. Genes encoding six heme proteins and a flavoprotein havebeen subcloned and expressed to 13–30% of the total cellprotein, greatly facilitating purification and analyses. Threeof the heme proteins and the flavoprotein incorporated prostheticgroups in E.coli, and exhibited the expected activities. Fourof the enzymes have been purified to homogeneity and two ofthese crystallized for X-ray diffraction analysis. A rapid muta-genesisprotocol, based on polymerase chain reactions, was successfullyapplied to clone derivatives of one of these enzymes, cytochromec peroxidase. Thus, this system fulfills all criteria for engineeringproteins in an efficient and concerted manner.     

Influence of annealing on properties and structure of alumina

Alumina bodies were prepared from pure alumina powder (98.9% Al₂O₃ consisting of 82% > 53m). The powder was compacted by hot-pressing at 1200° C, Compacted bodies were annealed at 1300, 1400 and 1500° C. Annealing continued at each maximum temperature for 25, 50 and 100 h. Strong bodies were obtained with maximum bulk density of 2.32 g cm^–3 and minimum apparent porosity of 30.21%. The change in sintering parameters with annealing was correlated with developed structure.     

Studies on the anodic polarization of composite amalgams. The behaviour of manganese—Zinc amalgams in alkaline solutions

The anodic oxidation of manganese-zinc amalgams of different concentrations was studied in 0·1, 1·0, 2·0 and 4·0N NaOH solutions at 25°C. The polarization curves obtained under constant currents exhibited several steps corresponding to the formation of Zn(OH)₂, Mn(OH)₂, MnO₃ and oxidation of mercury before O₂ evolution took place. The effect of presence of zinc on the oxidation step of manganese is explained.     

The ETH‐MAV Team in the MBZ International Robotics Challenge

This study describes the hardware and software systems of the Micro Aerial Vehicle (MAV) platforms used by the ETH Zurich team in the 2017 Mohamed Bin Zayed International Robotics Challenge (MBZIRC). The aim was to develop robust outdoor platforms with the autonomous capabilities required for the competition, by applying and integrating knowledge from various fields, including computer vision, sensor fusion, optimal control, and probabilistic robotics. This paper presents the major components and structures of the system architectures and reports on experimental findings for the MAV‐based challenges in the competition. Main highlights include securing the second place both in the individual search, pick, and place the task of Challenge 3 and the Grand Challenge, with autonomous landing executed in less than 1 min and a visual servoing success rate of over for object pickups.     

Mono‐, Di‐ and Tetra‐Cationic Surfactants as Carbon Steel Corrosion Inhibitors

Corrosion inhibition of three new synthesized cationic surfactants, N‐(2‐(((Z)‐4‐(pyridin‐4‐yl)but‐3‐en‐1‐yl)amino)ethyl)‐N‐(2‐((E)‐(pyridin‐4‐ylmethylene)amino)ethyl)dodecan‐1‐aminium bromide I(4N), N¹,N²‐didodecyl‐N¹‐((Z)‐4‐(pyridin‐4‐yl)but‐3‐en‐1‐yl)‐N²‐(2‐((E)‐(pyridin‐4‐ylmethylene)amino)ethyl)ethane‐1,2‐diaminium bromide II(4N) and 1‐dodecyl‐4‐((E)‐((2‐(dodecyl(2‐(dodecyl((Z)‐4‐(1‐dodecylpyridin‐1‐ium‐4‐yl)but‐3‐en‐1‐yl)ammonio)ethyl)ammonio)ethyl)imino)methyl)pyridin‐1‐ium bromide IV(4N) on carbon steel was investigated by weight loss, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and polarization measurements. Results show that the synthesized cationic surfactants inhibit corrosion of carbon steel in 1 M HCl. The inhibitive action occurs by virtue of adsorption on the metal surface following a Langmuir adsorption isotherm model. Polarization curves reveal that the investigated cationic surfactants can be classified as mixed inhibitor types. The variations in the corrosion inhibition efficiency between three cationic surfactants are correlated with their chemical structures, with more hydrophobic surfactants yielding higher inhibition efficiency.     

Synthesis and characterization of new polyurethanes: influence of monomer composition

Different polyurethanes (PU) were synthesized from polycaprolactone diol, 1.6-hexamethylene diisocyanate and bis(2-hydroxyethyl)terephthalate, using a two- and one-step methods providing regular and random distributions of starting monomers in the polyurethane chains. Even with an identical molar monomer composition, the properties of obtained PU are different depending on the method of synthesis. The chemical structure of PU was characterized by ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy, as well as by FTIR and UV–Visible spectroscopy. The thermo-mechanical and hydrophilic properties of synthesized PU were also studied demonstrating the influence of aromatic ring in the macromolecular chain.     

Prediction-based Deadbeat Control for Grid-connected Inverter with L-filter and LCL-filter

Abstract—In this article, an improved deadbeat control algorithm suitable for digital signal processor-based circuit implementation is proposed. The control algorithm allows the derivation of a nearly sine wave output current with a fixed switching frequency of a current-controlled voltage source inverter. Two low-pass output filters configurations are considered in this study: a simple inductance filter and an LCL-filter. By taking advantage of prior knowledge of the state variables’ shape, the improved deadbeat control algorithm is based on a simple prediction model to derive the expected duty cycle needed to switch on and off the power switches. The control study of the grid-connected inverter with L and LCL output filters has been considered using a co-simulation approach with (Powersim Inc., Rockville, Maryland, USA) and MATLAB software (The MathWorks, Natick, Massachusetts, USA). The obtained results show the improvement of both shape quality and tracking accuracy of the output current quantified by low ripple content and a nearly unity power factor.