Performance of multilayered fluoropolymer surface coating for DEP surface microfluidic devices

One of the key structural features of a surface microfluidic (SMF) device is the surface coating, since it directly affects both the performance and reliability of the SMF device. This work examines and compares the performance of liquid dielectrophoresis (LDEP) SMF devices, fabricated with conventional spin-coated Teflon^? surface to those coated with a recently developed fluoropolymer composite coating, which have been shown to be superior for low-voltage electrowetting actuation. We have focused on SMF devices that leverage LDEP and utilize high AC voltages to actuate aqueous samples on hydrophobic surfaces and produce droplet arrays of controlled size and structure to facilitate rapid and large-scale combinatorial bio-assays. Our findings demonstrate the superior performance, robustness and reliability of the composite coating over the conventional spin-coated Teflon^? coating, for repeated high-voltage, high-frequency LDEP actuations for homogenous, emulsion and variable volume aqueous sample dispensing.     

Electronic Mosquito: designing a semi-invasive Microsystem for blood sampling, analysis and drug delivery applications

In this study we present an innovative design idea for a semi-invasive blood sampling, analysis and drug delivery device called “Electronic Mosquito” (“e-Mosquito”). The major building blocks of the device are discussed. The principle of operation is described and its feasibility is demonstrated. The integration of the microsystem is outlined and its practical implementation proposed.     

The fate of methane in a claus plant reaction furnace

Experimental kinetic data are reported for key side reactions occurring in the front end [i. e. the reaction furnace (RF) and the waste heat boiler (WHB)] of modified Claus plants used for sulfur recovery from the sour gases evolved in the treatment of natural gas. An extensive experimental study was conducted in a high temperature tubular reactor system for two important homogenous gas‐phase reactions. Firstly, experiments were carried out to study the oxidation of hydrogen sulfide and methane mixtures in the presence of oxygen. Secondly, the reaction between methane and sulfur dioxide was investigated experimentally. These results showed that methane was much less competitive for oxygen than hydrogen sulfide. Hence, in a partially oxidizing environment of a RF, data showed that methane reacted significantly with other major sulfur containing species, as secondary reactions, to form COS and especially CS². This is highly problematic from an environmental point of view.     

Deep Brain Stimulation of the Medial Septal Area Can Modulate Gene Expression in the Hippocampus of Rats under Urethane Anesthesia

We studied the effects of stimulation of the medial septal area on the gene expression in the dorsal and ventral hippocampus. Rats under urethane anesthesia were implanted with a recording electrode in the right hippocampus and stimulating electrode in the dorsal medial septum (dMS) or medial septal nucleus (MSN). After one-hour-long deep brain stimulation, we collected ipsi- and contralateral dorsal and ventral hippocampi. Quantitative PCR showed that deep brain stimulation did not cause any changes in the intact contralateral dorsal and ventral hippocampi. A comparison of ipsi- and contralateral hippocampi in the control unstimulated animals showed that electrode implantation in the ipsilateral dorsal hippocampus led to a dramatic increase in the expression of immediate early genes (c-fos, arc, egr1, npas4), neurotrophins (ngf, bdnf) and inflammatory cytokines (il1b and tnf, but not il6) not only in the area close to implantation site but also in the ventral hippocampus. Moreover, the stimulation of MSN but not dMS further increased the expression of c-fos, egr1, npas4, bdnf, and tnf in the ipsilateral ventral but not dorsal hippocampus. Our data suggest that the activation of medial septal nucleus can change the gene expression in ventral hippocampal cells after their priming by other stimuli.     

Efficient Algorithm for Identification and Cache Based Discovery of Cloud Services

Mobile Networks and Applications - Efficient resource identification and discovery is the primary requirements for cloud computing services, as it assists in scheduling and managing of cloud...     

IoT Technology,Applications and Challenges: A Contemporary Survey

Wireless Personal Communications - Internet of things (IoT) is a very unique platform which is getting very popular day by day. The very reason for this to happen is the advancement in technology...     

Noise and Acoustic Fatigue Analysis in Valves (Case Study of Noise Analysis and Reduction for a 12″ × 10″ Pressure Safety Valve)

Journal of Failure Analysis and Prevention - Safety and instrument engineers regularly analyze the noise in different types of valves to reduce its effect in sectors of the oil and gas industry...     

Safety Integrity Level in Valves

Journal of Failure Analysis and Prevention - Safety integrity level (SIL) is a part of an international standard such as IEC 61508 that provides suppliers and end users with a common framework to...     

Human action and event recognition using a novel descriptor based on improved dense trajectories

Multimedia Tools and Applications - We propose a unified method for recognizing human action and human related events in a realistic video. We use an efficient pipeline of (a) a 3D representation...