In-focus electron microscopy of frozen-hydrated biological samples with a Boersch phase plate

We report the implementation of an electrostatic Einzel lens (Boersch) phase plate in a prototype transmission electron microscope dedicated to aberration-corrected cryo-EM. The combination of phase plate, C_s corrector and Diffraction Magnification Unit (DMU) as a new electron-optical element ensures minimal information loss due to obstruction by the phase plate and enables in-focus phase contrast imaging of large macromolecular assemblies. As no defocussing is necessary and the spherical aberration is corrected, maximal, non-oscillating phase contrast transfer can be achieved up to the information limit of the instrument. A microchip produced by a scalable micro-fabrication process has 10 phase plates, which are positioned in a conjugate, magnified diffraction plane generated by the DMU. Phase plates remained fully functional for weeks or months. The large distance between phase plate and the cryo sample permits the use of an effective anti-contaminator, resulting in ice contamination rates of <0.6 nm/h at the specimen. Maximal in-focus phase contrast was obtained by applying voltages between 80 and 700 mV to the phase plate electrode. The phase plate allows for in-focus imaging of biological objects with a signal-to-noise of 5-10 at a resolution of 2-3 nm, as demonstrated for frozen-hydrated virus particles and purple membrane at liquid-nitrogen temperature.     

Caustic imaging of gallium droplets using mirror electron microscopy

We discuss a new interpretation of mirror electron microscopy (MEM) images, whereby electric field distortions caused by surface topography and/or potential variations are sufficiently large to create caustics in the image contrast. Using a ray-based trajectory method, we consider how a family of rays overlaps to create caustics in the vicinity of the imaging plane of the magnetic objective lens. Such image caustics contain useful information on the surface topography and/or potential, and can be directly related to surface features. Specifically we show how a through-focus series of MEM images can be used to extract the contact angle of a Ga droplet on a GaAs (001) surface.     

Improved phase performance for rotman lens

Rotman lenses are used to obtain multiple beams from a single array. Although the beams produced by the feed antennas at focal points have no path length errors, the beams produced by feed antennas at off focal points may have large path length errors. These path length errors cause deterioration in the multiple beams. In this article, two novel methods are introduced to obtain feed curves which reduce the path length errors of off focal feed points significantly, compared with the commonly used circular and elliptical feed curves. The first method obtains feed curve points based on having zero path length error at three chosen points of the radiating array for each beam direction. The second method uses the particle swarm optimization method for obtaining optimum feed points for each beam direction. The results show that there is a very significant drop in the level of the maximum path length errors (in the order of about 1:4). © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J RF and Microwave CAE 23: 634–638, 2013.     

基于热释电红外传感器的人防警报器防盗系统设计

目前我们所使用的防空警报器经常由于监管不严发生盗窃事故或被不法分子恶意操作发生警报器误响世故,严重扰乱了人民的正常工作、学习和生活,造成了十分严重的后果和影响。为此对现有的人防警报器设计了一个自动防盗、防破坏报警系统,该系统由菲涅尔透镜、热释电红外传感器、单片机、语音警示电路组成,响应速度快,抗干扰能力强,灵敏度高。当有人距离警报器低于1 m时,就会发出语音警示,同时向管理平台回传信息,达到了安全防护的目的。     

基于IMS移动终端的即时通信联系人列表管理器

本文主要介绍基于IMS移动终端的即时通信联系人管理器,该管理器主要由XML搜索器、XML解析器、XML管理模块、XCAP通信模块构成。分析联系人列表中联系人的XML片段的定长特性,设计了XML搜索器,实现了节点的快速查找。在XML管理器模块中,以节点路径和消息片段的方式提交联系人修改,减少XML消息传输的字节数,从而提高了消息的传输速率。     

Full perimeter obstacle contact sensor based on flex sensors

This paper presents an obstacle contact sensor system that can detect both the contact state and the direction of contact parallel to the movement plane of a mobile system carrying the sensor. This sensor system is based on a regular- or irregular-shaped ring surrounding the mobile system’s perimeter, connected to the mobile system’s body by a set of soft springs and also coupled mechanically to a set of four flex sensors measuring the relative displacement and direction of the ring when contacting an obstacle. The set of flex sensors is connected to a low-cost electronic module that implements a data acquisition block and a fuzzy processing block, delivering a value representing the estimated contact zone of the ring. Some experiments show how this detection system effectively reduces the sensor count needed for full coverage of the mobile system’s perimeter. Despite the kind of output implemented in the experiments, the contact force can also be estimated.     

后期模拟制作相机镜头背景模糊效果

在摄影实践中,虚化背景是突出主体的常用手段。但是由于消费级DC镜头的实际焦距都很短,因此实现浅景深而虚化背景的难度较大。如果我们希望用消费级DC也能达到虚化背景突出主体的效果,那么,Photoshop后期处理可以派上用场。     

Controller design for flexible structure vibration suppression with robustness to contacts

Model-based feedback control of vibration in flexible structures can be complicated by the possibility that interaction with an external body occurs. If not accounted for, instability or poor performance may result. In this paper, a method is proposed for achieving robust vibration control of flexible structures under contact. The method uses robust linear state feedback, coupled with a state estimation scheme utilizing contact force measurement. Uncertain contact characteristics are modelled by a sector-bounded non-linear function, such that state feedback gains can be synthesized using a matrix inequality formulation of the Popov stability criterion. A separation theorem is used to establish a robust H₂ cost bound for the closed loop system. Experimental results from a multi-mode flexible structure testbed confirm that vibration attenuation and stability can be maintained over a broad range of contact characteristics, in terms of compliance and clearance.     

基于小世界模型的传感器网络节能查询策略

查询处理是传感器网络中最重要的技术之一。以降低查询能耗为目的,提出了一种基于小世界模型的查询策略（CardSN）。该策略以关联作为长程连接,降低了网络平均路径距离;将各节点的邻居相对定位,使查询处理获得了方向性。仿真实验结果表明：CardSN具有良好的可扩展性,且能耗明显低于ZRP和CAPTURE。     

Modulation of the wettability of excipients by surfactant and its impacts on the disintegration and release of tablets

Objective: To investigate the modulation of the wettability of excipients by different types of surfactants and its impacts on the disintegration of tablets and drug release.

Materials and methods: The critical micelle concentration (CMC) of surfactants, including sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate (SDBS), dodecyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (DTAB), cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) and polysorbate (Tween-20 and Tween-80), was obtained using the platinum ring method. Contact angles of surfactant solutions on the excipient compacts and double-distilled water on the mixture of surfactant and the other excipient (magnesium stearate (MgSt) or sodium alginate (SA)) were measured by the sessile drop technique. Besides, surface free energy of excipients was calculated by the Owens method. Finally, the disintegration of tablets and in vitro dissolution testing were performed according to the method described in USP.

Results and discussion: The wettability of excipients could be enhanced to different extent with low concentration of surfactant solutions and maintained stable basically after CMC. For MgSt (hydrophobic excipient), the shorter the hydrophobic chain (C₁₂, including SDS and DTAB), the better the wettability with the addition of surfactant in the formulation, leading to the shorter disintegration time of tablets and higher drug release rate. In contrast, the wettability of SA (hydrophilic excipient) was reduced by adding surfactant, resulting in the longer disintegration time of tablets and lower release rate.

Conclusion: The modulation of the wetting of pharmaceutical excipients by surfactant had changed the disintegration time of tablets and drug release rate to a greater extent.