Single- and Triaxis Piezoelectric-Bimorph Accelerometers

This paper describes the novel single- and triaxis piezoelectric-bimorph accelerometers that are built on parylene beams with ZnO films. The unamplified sensitivity and the minimum detectable signal of the fabricated single-axis accelerometer are measured to be 7.0 mV/g and 0.01 g, respectively, over a frequency range from 60 Hz to subhertz. The linearity of the sensitivity as a function of acceleration is measured to be 0.9% in the full scale. A highly symmetric quad-beam bimorph structure with a single proof mass is used for triaxis acceleration sensing and is demonstrated to produce high sensitivity, low cross-axial sensitivity, and good linearity, all in a compact size. The unamplified sensitivities of the X-, Y-, and Z-axis electrodes (of the triaxis accelerometer) in response to the accelerations in X-, Y-, and Z-axes are 0.93, 1.13, and 0.88 mV/g, respectively. The worst-case minimum detectable signal of the triaxis accelerometer is measured to be 0.04 g over a bandwidth ranging from subhertz to 100 Hz. The cross-axial sensitivity among the X-, Y-, and Z-axis electrodes is less than 15% in the triaxis accelerometer. The theoretical analyses of the charge sensitivities and resonant frequencies along with the effects of residual stress on the charge sensitivities are presented for both the single- and triaxis accelerometers.     

Optimal design of a class of symmetric plane frameworks of least weight

The aim of the paper is to place the recent results on the Michell-like problem of transmitting two vertical forces to two fixed hinge supports in the context of C. Maxwell’s result and to provide answers to the remarks by Vázquez Espií and Cervera Bravo (Struct Multidisc Optim, 2011) published in their Discussion Paper: On the solution of the three forces problem and its application in optimal designing of a class of symmetric plane frameworks of least weight. Discussion on the Michell class concept.     

Piezoelectric bimorph microphone built on micromachined parylene diaphragm

This paper describes a novel bimorph piezoelectric microphone built on a micromachined parylene diaphragm with two ZnO films of opposite c-axis orientations. Both the sensitivity and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the bimorph parylene-diaphragm microphone have been demonstrated to be much higher than those of a conventional unimorph silicon-nitride-diaphragm microphone.     

Crystallization behavior of biodegradable amphiphilic poly(ethylene glycol)‐poly(L‐lactide) block copolymers

Poly(ethylene glycol)‐poly(L ‐lactide) diblock and triblock copolymers were prepared by ring‐opening polymerization of L ‐lactide with poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether or with poly(ethylene glycol) in the presence of stannous octoate. Molecular weight, thermal properties, and crystalline structure of block copolymers were analyzed by ¹H‐NMR, FTIR, GPC, DSC, and wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction (WAXD). The composition of the block copolymer was found to be comparable to those of the reactants. Each block of the PEG–PLLA copolymer was phase separated at room temperature, as determined by DSC and WAXD. For the asymmetric block copolymers, the crystallization of one block influenced much the crystalline structure of the other block that was chemically connected to it. Time‐resolved WAXD analyses also showed the crystallization of the PLLA block became retarded due to the presence of the PEG block. According to the biodegradability test using the activated sludge, PEG–PLLA block copolymer degraded much faster than PLLA homopolymers of the same molecular weight. © 1999 John Wiley amp; Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 72: 341–348, 1999     

Single-chip multiple-frequency VHF low-impedance micro piezoelectric resonators

This letter reports on the design, fabrication, and testing a new class of low-impedance multiple-frequency micromechanical resonator using piezoelectric transduction mechanism. The resonator is fabricated out of a 3-/spl mu/m-thick silicon layer on a silicon-on-insulator wafer with a low-temperature post-CMOS compatible process. Two types of low-impedance resonators using the same design principle are presented here. The center frequency of the novel resonator is set by the lithographically defined in-plane dimension of the device (width of bar or radius of disk). The 200-/spl mu/m-diameter disk-shaped resonator is measured to have an impedance of 1.6 k/spl Omega/ at the resonant frequency of 45.4 MHz, with a quality factor of 1100. The bar-type resonator is measured to have an impedance of 920 /spl Omega/ at 60 MHz, exhibiting a Q factor of 1400.     

Channel Estimation Scheme for WLAN Systems with Backward Compatibility

IEEE 802.11n standards introduced a mixed‐mode format frame structure to achieve higher throughput with multiple antennas while providing backward compatibility with legacy systems. Although multi‐input multi‐output channel estimation was possible only with high‐throughput long training fields (HT‐LTFs), the proposed scheme utilizes a legacy LTF as well as HT‐LTFs in a decision feedback manner to improve the accuracy of the estimates. It was verified through theoretical analysis and simulations that the proposed scheme effectively enhances the mean square error performance.     

Microparticle trapping in an ultrasonic Bessel beam

This paper describes an acoustic trap consisting of a multi-foci Fresnel lens on 127?μm thick lead zirconate titanate sheet. The multi-foci Fresnel lens was designed to have similar working mechanism to an Axicon lens and generates an acoustic Bessel beam, and has negative axial radiation force capable of trapping one or more microparticle(s). The fabricated acoustic tweezers trapped lipid particles ranging in diameter from 50 to 200?μm and microspheres ranging in diameter from 70 to 90?μm at a distance of 2 to 5?mm from the tweezers without any contact between the transducer and microparticles.     

2-Polyunsaturated Acyl Lysophosphatidylethanolamine Attenuates Inflammatory Response in Zymosan A-Induced Peritonitis in Mice

In the present study, the anti-inflammatory action of lysophosphatidylethanolamine (lysoPtdEtn), orally administered, in zymosan A-induced peritonitis was examined. Oral administration of 2-DHA-lysoPtdEtn (ED₅₀, ~111 μg/kg) or 2-ARA-lysoPtdEtn (ED₅₀, 221 μg/kg) was found to inhibit the plasma leakage in mice treated with zymosan A. In support of this, 2-polyunsaturated acyl-lysoPtdEtn diminished the formation of LTC₄, a lipid mediator responsible for vascular permeability. Next, 2-DHA-lysoPtdEtn (ED₅₀, 110 μg/kg) or 2-ARA-lysoPtdEtn (ED₅₀, 123 μg/kg) effectively inhibited the leukocyte extravasation into the peritoneum. Consistent with this, each polyunsaturated-lysoPtdEtn diminished the formation of LTB₄ and 12-HETE, potent chemotactic factors. Additionally, the level of pro-inflammatory mediator (IL-1 β, IL-6, TNF-α or NO) was lowered remarkably in contrast to the augmentation of anti-inflammatory interleukin IL-10. Furthermore, 2-(15-HETE)-lysoPtdEtn and 2-(17-HDHE)-lysoPtdEtn, 15-lipoxygenation product of 2-ARA-lysoPtdEtn and 2-DHA-lysoPtdEtn, respectively, were more potent than corresponding lysoPtdEtn, suggesting the action of 2-acyl-lysoPtdEtn might be expressed through 15-lipoxygenation. In support of this, the formation of 15-HETE and LXA₄ was upgraded in accordance with an increasing dose of 2-ARA-lysoPtdEtn. Separately, anti-inflammatory actions, 2-polyunsaturated acyl-lysoPtdEtns also drastically diminished leukocyte infiltration in a later phase of zymosan A-induced peritonitis, indicating that these lipids also possess pro-resolving activity. Taken together, it is suggested that polyunsaturated lysoPtdEtns and their lipoxygenation derivatives, could be classified as potent anti-inflammatory lipids.     

Thermal and mechanical behavior of copper molds during thin-slab casting (II): Mold crack formation

The formation of cracks in a funnel mold of thin-slab casting is investigated using metallographic studies and mathematical models. In Part II of this two-part article on thin-slab casting molds, short longitudinal cracks near the meniscus region of a thin-slab funnel mold are studied metallurgically. X-ray analyses revealed the formation of Cu-Zn brass on the copper matrix at high temperature where the crack initiated. Heat-transfer and thermal-elastic-viscoplastic stress models described in Part I are applied to investigate the temperature and stress fields associated with the cracks. Large cyclic inelastic strains were found in the funnel transition region just below the meniscus due to the slightly higher temperature at that location. The cracks then appear to have propagated by thermal fatigue caused by major level fluctuations at transitions. The stress and strain predictions suggest cycles to failure for molds for various hot-face temperatures.