Bimaterial Microcantilevers as a Hybrid Sensing Platform

Microcantilevers, one of the most common MEMS structures, have been introduced as a novel sensing paradigm nearly a decade ago. Ever since, the technology has emerged to find important applications in chemical, biological and physical sensing areas. Today the technology stands at the verge of providing the next generation of sophisticated sensors (such as artificial nose, artificial tongue) with extremely high sensitivity and miniature size. The article provides an overview of the modes of detection, theory behind the transduction mechanisms, materials employed as active layers, and some of the important applications. Emphasizing the material design aspects, the review underscores the most important findings, current trends, key challenges and future directions of the microcantilever based sensor technology.     

Feedback control with signal transmission after‐effects

In many practical systems, the physical plant, controller, sensor, and actuator are difficult to be located at the same place, and thus signals are required to be transmitted from one place to another. One immediate problem arising from such situations is that signals may exhibit after‐effect phenomena during their transmission. In this paper, we present a new model to characterize the state‐feedback control systems with signal transmission after‐effects, which deals with the transmission after‐effects from sensor to controller and from controller to actuator separately. Analysis and synthesis results based on this new model are established by using a Lyapunov–Krasovskii approach. Numerical simulations are provided to illustrate the usefulness of the theoretical results. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A case of kala-azar diagnosed by bone marrow aspiration

A group of 30 consecutive patients with iatrogenic vascular injury were studied to determine the aetiology of the condition and to investigate its possible prevention. Of the patients, 18 were males and 12 females; mean age was 37.0 years (range 2 weeks to 70 years). Most injuries (n = 25) involved the arterial system; eight cases (27%) were recognized during the operative procedure. The most common presentations were bleeding and chronic ischaemia. Cannulation of vessels was the cause of injury in 14 cases (47%); two-thirds of these were iatrogenic in nature. A conservative policy was adopted in nine patients; surgery was planned but not performed in two. A total of 19 patients were operated on (17 reconstructions, one ligation, one fasciotomy); two died from causes related to their original condition. In order to reduce the incidence of iatrogenic injury, medical personnel should be informed of possible vessel damage, especially during cannulation. All surgical and radiological procedures should be carefully audited.     

A novel beta-galactoside-binding lectin in cultured murine lymphocytic leukemia cells

Using affinity chromatography on lactosyl-Sepharose, a beta-galactoside-binding protein of 38 kDa was detected in mouse L1210 lymphocytic leukemia cells. Immunoblotting analysis revealed that it is distinct from any known larger molecular weight galectin. The partial amino acid sequences of the 38 kDa protein indicated that it is a novel member of the galectin family. This 38 kDa lectin is expressed in lymphocytic cell lines but not macrophage-like cell lines.     

On the calculation of the directivity of planar array feeds for satellite reflector applications

A calculation of the directivity of a planar array involves a coefficientC_{mn}which is given in an integral form in the literature. A series representation forC_{mn}is derived here, which allows efficient numerical evaluation. Numerical results and comments on the behavior ofC_{mn}are discussed.     

Incidence of progressive supranuclear palsy and multiple system atrophy in Olmsted County, Minnesota, 1976 to 1990

Information on the incidence of progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) is limited; incidence rates for multiple system atrophy (MSA) are not available. We studied the incidence of PSP and MSA in Olmsted County, Minnesota, for the years 1976 to 1990. This study was part of a larger investigation of all forms of parkinsonism. We used the medical records-linkage system of the Rochester Epidemiology Project to identify all subjects whose records contained documentation of any from of parkinsonism, related neurodegenerative diseases, or tremor of any type. A nurse abstractor screened the records and, when applicable, a neurologist reviewed them to determine the presence or absence of parkinsonism. Cases of parkinsonism were classified using specified diagnostic criteria. Population denominators were derived from census data and were corrected by removing prevalent cases of parkinsonism. Over the 15 years of the study, we found 16 incident cases of PSP and nine incident cases of MSA. No cases of PSP or MSA had onset before age 50 years. The average annual incidence rate (new cases per 100,000 person-years) for ages 50 to 99 years was 5.3 for PSP and 3.0 for MSA. The incidence of PSP increased steeply with age from 1.7 at 50 to 59 years to 14.7 at 80 to 99 years, and was consistently higher in men. Median survival time from symptom onset was 5.3 years for PSP and 8.5 years for MSA. The incidence of PSP increases with age and is consistently higher in men at all ages. PSP and MSA are more common than previously recognized.