A miniaturized contactless pure-bending device for in-situ SEM failure analysis

Stretchable electronic devices enable numerous futuristic applications. Typically, these devices consist of a (metal) interconnect system embedded in a stretchable (rubber) matrix. This invokes an apparent stretchability conflict between the interconnect system and the matrix. This conflict is addressed by shaping the interconnects in mechanistic patterns that bend and twist to facilitate global stretchability. Metal-rubber type stretchable electronic systems exhibit catastrophic interface delamination, which is investigated in this research. The fibrillation process occurring at the delamination front of the metal-rubber interface is investigated through in-situ SEM imaging of the progressing delamination front of peel tests of rubber on copper samples. Results show that the interface strength is dependent on the delamination rate and the interface roughness. Additionally, the fibril geometry seems highly dependent on the interface roughness, while being remarkably independent on the delamination-rate

Infection of Human Mononuclear Phagocytes and Macrophage-Like THP1 Cells with Leishmania donovani Results in Modulation of Expression of a Subset of Chemokines and a Chemokine Receptor

The expression of chemokines and chemokine receptors was studied in Leishmania donovani (LD)-infected human mononuclear phagocytes and the human monocytic cell line THP1. Our studies showed that LD infection caused the upregulation of three b chemokines (macrophage inflammatory protein-1 alpha (MIP-1a), MIP-1b and RANTES (regulated on activation normal T cell expressed and secreted)), one a chemokine (interleukin-8 (IL-8)) and the CC chemokine receptor 5 (CCR5) but not CCR1, as evident from reverse transcriptase- polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis. The CCR5 upregulation in human mononuclear phagocytes and THP1 cells was also evident by confocal microscopy. The possible association of such upregulation in relation to Leishmania and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) coinfection was discusse

Quartz Knapping Strategies in the Howiesons Poort at Sibudu (KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa)

The variability associated with Sibudu\u27s Howiesons Poort Industry highlights the unpredictable trajectory of technology in the Middle Stone Age. We reach this conclusion through a study of the technology on quartz from one of the Howiesons Poort layers (Grey Sand) from Sibudu rock shelter. Quartz bifacial technology has previously been described at the site, but this new in-depth study of the quartz technology reveals other strategies. First is the recurring employment of bipolar knapping, formerly considered as a defining feature of the Later Stone Age. Secondly, we highlight a laminar technology with emphasis on small quartz bladelets. Bipolar cores are most common, followed by prismatic cores. The knapping strategies in Grey Sand seem to involve systematic recycling and the deliberate production of microliths