High Q 2D-length extension mode resonators for potential time–frequency applications

Microsystem Technologies - This paper presents recent advances on two dimensional length-extension mode (2D-LEM) quartz resonators providing high quality (Q) factor on resonances at a few MHz. The...     

Short- and long-term stability of resonant quartz temperature sensors

A new miniaturized design of the thermosensitive quartz resonator (TSQR) using an NLC cut (yxl/ -31 degrees 30') with a fundamental frequency of 29.3 MHz was created in the Acoustoelectronics Laboratory of ISSPBAS for use in a wide temperature range (4.2 K to 450 K) as highly sensitive quartz temperature sensors (QTS). This paper presents the results of the investigations of the short- and long-term frequency stability of QTS. The short-term frequency stability of QTS was measured for averaging times up to 150 s at three constant temperatures: liquid helium (4.2 K), liquid nitrogen (77 K), and melting ice (0 degrees C). The short-term frequency stability is 6.8 * 10(-9) at 0 degrees C for t = 15 s, which permits a temperature sensitivity of 2 * 10(-4) K. The long-term stability (aging) was investigated at room temperature and at 80 degrees C for 500 days. The aging characteristics at 25 degrees C and 80 degrees C are compared. It was observed that the frequency change does not exceed 5 * 10(-7) after the 25th day of accelerated aging at 80 degrees C. This guarantees a reliable operation of the sensor, without additional calibration, for several years.     

Role of nitric oxide on cholinergic component of bronchial tone in pig

In vitro studies demonstrated that stimulation of intrinsic nerves of airway smooth muscle results in a predominantly contractile response, followed by a relaxant response which involves cholinergic, adrenergic and non-adrenergic non-cholinergic (NANC) nerve activation. Thus, in this paper it is determined whether endogenous nitric oxide (NO) modulates cholinergic neurotransmission in isolated pig airway smooth muscle. Bronchial rings were suspended in organ baths for isometric measurement of tension and the contractions were induced using electrical field stimulation (EFS) techniques. Then, the effects of L-NG-nitroarginine (L-NOARG, 10 microM), an inhibitor of NO synthase, and L-arginine (L-ARG, 1 mM), a precursor of NO synthesis, were evaluated. The cholinergic contractions induced by electrical field stimulation (EFS: 60 V, 2 ms, 60 Hz) of pig lobar bronchial preparations increased (29%) in the presence of L-NOARG (10 microM). This effect may be released by nerves in pig large airways during EFS.     

Effects of load and tone on the mechanics of isolated human bronchial smooth muscle

Isotonic and isometric properties of nine human bronchial smooth muscles were studied under various loading and tone conditions. Freshly dissected bronchial strips were electrically stimulated successively at baseline, after precontraction with 10(-7) M methacholine (MCh), and after relaxation with 10(-5) M albuterol (Alb). Resting tension, i.e., preload determining optimal initial length (Lo) at baseline, was held constant. Compared with baseline, MCh decreased muscle length to 93 +/- 1% Lo (P < 0.001) before any electrical stimulation, whereas Alb increased it to 111 +/- 3% Lo (P < 0.01). MCh significantly decreased maximum unloaded shortening velocity (0.045 +/- 0.007 vs. 0.059 +/- 0.007 Lo/s), maximal extent of muscle shortening (8.4 +/- 1.2 vs. 13.9 +/- 2.4% Lo), and peak isometric tension (6.1 +/- 0.8 vs. 7.2 +/- 1.0 mN/mm2). Alb restored all these contractile indexes to baseline values. These findings suggest that MCh reversibly increased the number of active actomyosin cross bridges under resting conditions, limiting further muscle shortening and active tension development. After the electrically induced contraction, muscles showed a transient phase of decrease in tension below preload. This decrease in tension was unaffected by afterload levels but was significantly increased by MCh and reduced by Alb. These findings suggest that the cross bridges activated before, but not during, the electrically elicited contraction may modulate the phase of decrease in tension below preload, reflecting the active part of resting tension.     

Temperature-compensated cuts for length-extensional and flexural vibrating modes in GaPO4 beam resonators

Flexural modes are the basic vibrating mode of tuning forks used in quartz wrist watches; they also can be used as the basis for sensors. Very little work, if any, has been done for vibrating beam resonators in GaPO4. In this paper, the possibility of temperature-compensated cuts in GaPO4 is investigated for length-extensional and flexural vibrating modes. A theoretical investigation of rectangular cross-section GaPO4 vibrating beam resonators is accomplished by analytical methods. Modeling temperature effect is achieved by the approximate but classical method in which the effective elastic constants, beam dimensions, and crystal mass density are varied as a function of temperature. Temperature-compensated cuts are given in GaPO4 for length-extensional and flexural modes. Some temperature-compensated cuts of GaPO4 exhibit inversion points at high temperatures.