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Selected AbstractsSinglet states open the way to longer time-scales in the measurement of diffusion by NMR spectroscopyCONCEPTS IN MAGNETIC RESONANCE, Issue 1 2008Simone Cavadini Abstract Nuclear magnetic resonance is a powerful nonintrusive technique for measuring diffusion coefficients through the use of pulsed field gradients. The main limitation to the application range of this method is imposed by the relaxation time constants of the magnetization. The recently introduced singlet-state spectroscopy affords obtaining relaxation time constants for pairs of coupled spins which can be longer by more than an order of magnitude than the spin-lattice relaxation time constants. We review in this paper the advantages that are offered by these long relaxation time constants for diffusion measurements. Using experiments that combine singlet-state and diffusion spectroscopy, slower diffusion constants can be determined. The coupling of the two methods constitutes an alternative to the use of special probes equipped with strong gradients for the study of large molecules that diffuse slowly in solution. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Concepts Magn Reson Part A 32A: 68,78, 2008. [source] A Closer Look Inside Nanotubes: Pore Structure Evaluation of Anodized Alumina Templated Carbon Nanotube Membranes Through Adsorption and Permeability StudiesADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 15 2010Georgios Pilatos Abstract Although hollow nanostructures, such as nanotubes, represent a major portion of nanoscaled materials with a tremendously large application range, a detailed evaluation of their internal characteristics still remains elusive. Transmission electron microscopy is the most common analytical technique to examine the internal configuration of these structures, yet it can only provide evidence of a minimal portion of the overall material, thus, it cannot be accurately generalized. In the present paper, in addition to electron microscopy and other spot-size analysis methods (X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, etc.), a combination of techniques including adsorption, permeability, and relative permeability are employed in order to provide important insights into various crucial details of the overall internal surface and hollow-space characteristics of carbon nanotube (CNT) arrays and membranes. The CNT arrays are fabricated using anodized alumina as a template in a flow-through chemical vapor deposition (CVD) reactor. This is the first systematic approach for investigating the internal configuration of template-based CNT arrays in detail. Key findings are made for the customized optimization of the resulting nanotube membranes for a variety of applications, including separations, nanofluidics and nanoreactors, biological capturing and purification, and controlled drug delivery and release. [source] Advanced silicon microstructures, sensors, and systemsIEEJ TRANSACTIONS ON ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC ENGINEERING, Issue 3 2007Oliver Paul Non-Member Abstract This paper presents the progress in silicon-based biomedical microstructures, material characterization techniques, and mechanical microsystems by the authors' research team. Microneedle and microelectrode arrays with fluidic through-wafer vias and electrical contacts were developed. The structures are designed for dermatological and biological applications such as allergy testing, surface electromyography, and spatially resolved impedance spectroscopy. The characterization of thin films has relied on the bulge test. By the formulation of more powerful models, the application range of the bulge test was extended to elastically supported thin-film multilayers. This enables the mechanical properties of thin films to be determined reliably. Finally, progress in the operation and application of novel stress sensors based on CMOS diffusions and field effect transistors and exploiting the pseudo-Hall effect is reported. Their integration into powerful single-chip microsystems is described. Applications include stress mapping, force and torque measurements, and tactile surface probing of microcomponents. Copyright © 2007 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan© 2007 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. [source] Numerical solutions of fully non-linear and highly dispersive Boussinesq equations in two horizontal dimensionsINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR NUMERICAL METHODS IN FLUIDS, Issue 3 2004David R. Fuhrman Abstract This paper investigates preconditioned iterative techniques for finite difference solutions of a high-order Boussinesq method for modelling water waves in two horizontal dimensions. The Boussinesq method solves simultaneously for all three components of velocity at an arbitrary z -level, removing any practical limitations based on the relative water depth. High-order finite difference approximations are shown to be more efficient than low-order approximations (for a given accuracy), despite the additional overhead. The resultant system of equations requires that a sparse, unsymmetric, and often ill-conditioned matrix be solved at each stage evaluation within a simulation. Various preconditioning strategies are investigated, including full factorizations of the linearized matrix, ILU factorizations, a matrix-free (Fourier space) method, and an approximate Schur complement approach. A detailed comparison of the methods is given for both rotational and irrotational formulations, and the strengths and limitations of each are discussed. Mesh-independent convergence is demonstrated with many of the preconditioners for solutions of the irrotational formulation, and solutions using the Fourier space and approximate Schur complement preconditioners are shown to require an overall computational effort that scales linearly with problem size (for large problems). Calculations on a variable depth problem are also compared to experimental data, highlighting the accuracy of the model. Through combined physical and mathematical insight effective preconditioned iterative solutions are achieved for the full physical application range of the model. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] EM design of broadband RF multiport toggle switchesINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RF AND MICROWAVE COMPUTER-AIDED ENGINEERING, Issue 4 2004W. Simon Abstract Radio frequency (RF) MEMS is an emerging sub-area of MEMS technology that is revolutionizing RF and microwave applications. RF MEMS devices have a broad range of optional applications in military and commercial wireless communication, and navigation and sensor systems. This article presents the EM design of different multiport toggle switches. Such a multiport switch can be used in the compact designs of switching matrices, routing networks, or phase shifters. One application range is the creation of electronically steerable antenna arrays, which can be used for radar applications and satellite communication. The miniaturized switches are based on the single pole single throw (SPST) toggle switch and, in addition to their small size, they have an increased RF performance regarding losses and operation bandwidth (DC to 50 GHz). A 3D FDTD field solver has been used for the electromagnetic design of all the switches. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J RF and Microwave CAE 14: 329,337, 2004. [source] Improved Method for Determining Food Protein Degree of HydrolysisJOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE, Issue 5 2001P.M. Nielsen ABSTRACT When producing hydrolyzed proteins, it is important to determine the degree of hydrolysis (DH). The trinitro-benzene-sulfonic acid (TNBS) method is well established with regard to enzymatic hydrolysis. However, this method is laborious, cannot be used to follow a hydrolysis reaction continuously, and includes hazardous and unstable chemicals. This paper describes a method based on the reaction of primary amino groups with o-phthaldialdehyde (OPA). The conclusion is that the OPA method of analyzing the DH of protein hydrolyses is more accurate, is easier and faster to carry out, has a broader application range, and is environmentally safer than the TNBS method. [source] Piezoelectric Multilayer Ceramic/Polymer Composite Transducer with 2,2 ConnectivityJOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CERAMIC SOCIETY, Issue 8 2006Chang-Bun Yoon A multilayer piezoelectric ceramic/polymer composite with 2,2 connectivity was fabricated by thermoplastic green machining after co-extrusion. The multilayer ceramic body was composed of piezoelectrically active lead zirconate titanate (PZN),lead zinc niobate (PZN)-lead zirconate titanate (PZT) layers and electrically conducting PZN,PZT/Ag layers. After co-extruding the thermoplastic body, which consisted of five piezoelectric layers interspersed with four conducting layers, it was computer numeric-controlled machined to create periodic channels within it. Following binder burnout and sintering, an 18 vol% array of 190 ,m thin PZT slabs with a channel size of 880 ,m was fabricated. The channels were filled with epoxy in order to fabricate a PZN,PZT/epoxy composite with 2,2 connectivity. The piezoelectric coefficient (effective d33) and hydrostatic figure of merit (dh×gh) of the PZN,PZT/epoxy composite were 1200 pC/N and 20 130 × 10,15 m2/N, respectively. These excellent piezoelectric characteristics as well as the relatively simple fabrication procedure will contribute in widening the application range of the piezoelectric transducers. [source] Can we use diffusion MRI as a bio-marker of neurodegenerative processes?BIOESSAYS, Issue 11-12 2008Yaniv Assaf Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is an imaging technique with a rapidly expanding application range. This methodology, which relies on quantum physics and substance magnetic properties, is now being routinely used in the clinics and medical research. With the advent of measuring functional brain activity with MRI (functional MRI), this methodology has reached a larger section of the neuroscience community (e.g. psychologists, neurobiologists). In the past, the use of MRI as a biomarker or as an assay to probe tissue pathophysiological condition was limited. However, with the new applications of MRI: molecular imaging, contrast-enhanced imaging and diffusion imaging, MRI is turning into a powerful tool for in vivo characterization of tissue pathophysiology. This review focuses on the diffusion MRI. Although it only measures the averaged Brownian translational motion of water molecules, using different analysis schemes, one can extract a wide range of quantitative indices that represent tissue morphology and compartmentalization. Statistical and visualization routines help to relate these indices to biologically relevant measures such as cell density, water content and size distribution. The aim of this review is to shed light on the potential of this methodology to be used in biological research. To that end, this review is intended for the non-MRI specialists who wish to pursue biological research with this methodology. We will overview the current applications of diffusion MRI and its relation to cellular biology of brain tissue. BioEssays 30:1235,1245, 2008. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [source] Network models for capillary porous media: application to drying technologyCHEMIE-INGENIEUR-TECHNIK (CIT), Issue 6 2010T. Metzger Jun.-Prof. Abstract Network models offer an efficient pore-scale approach to investigate transport in partially saturated porous materials and are particularly suited to study capillarity. Drying is a prime model application since it involves a range of physical effects: capillary pumping, viscous liquid flow, phase transition, vapor diffusion, heat transfer, but also cracks and shrinkage. This review article gives an introduction to this modern technique addressing required model input, sketching important elements of the computational algorithm and commenting on the nature of simulation results. For the case of drying, it is illustrated how network models can help analyze the influence of pore structure on process kinetics and gain a deeper understanding of the role of individual transport phenomena. Finally, a combination of pore network model and discrete element method is presented, extending the application range to mechanical effects caused by capillary forces. [source] |