A MEMS electrostatic particle transportation system

We demonstrate here an electrostatic MEMS system capable of transporting particles 5-10μm in diameter in air. This system consists of 3-phase electrode arrays covered by insulators (Figs. 1, 2). Extensive testing of this system has been done using a variety of insulation materials (silicon nitride, photoresist, and Teflon), thickness (0- 12μm), particle sizes (1-10μm), particle materials (metal, glass, polystyrene, spores, etc), waveforms, frequencies, and voltages. Although previous literature [1-2] claimed it impractical to electrostatically transport particles with sizes 5-10μm due to complex surface forces, this effort actually shows it feasible (as high as 90% efficiency) with the optimal combination of insulation thickness, electrode geometry, and insulation material. Moreover, we suggest a qualitative theory for our particle transportation system which is consistent with our data and finite-element electrostatic simulations

Evaluation of Seismic Response of Pile-Supported Structures with 3-D Nonlinear Approach

The seismic response of pile-supported structures is evaluated using a three-dimensional finite element subsystem methodology with an advanced plasticity based constitutive model for soils. The motion of the pile foundation is amplified due to the soil-pile-structure interaction. The dynamic internal forces of the structures obtained by the 3-D nonlinear approach deviate significantly from those obtained by the rigid ground motion model. The structures are generally subjected to three-dimensional forces and couples, despite the type of bedrock seismic excitation and the configuration of structures. Some components of the dynamic internal forces may be overlooked if the simplified symmetric models are used for the earthquake analysis. A comprehensive examination of the results from the rigid ground motion model and the 3-D interactive model may provide some evaluation bound of the seismic response of pile-supported structures

A Singular Perturbation Analysis for \\Unstable Systems with Convective Nonlinearity

We use a singular perturbation method to study the interface dynamics of a non-conserved order parameter (NCOP) system, of the reaction-diffusion type, for the case where an external bias field or convection is present. We find that this method, developed by Kawasaki, Yalabik and Gunton for the time-dependant Ginzburg-Landau equation and used successfully on other NCOP systems, breaks down for our system when the strength of bias/convection gets large enough.Comment: 5 pages, PostScript forma

Functional outcome of proximal 1/3rd, distal 1/3rd and diaphysial tibial fractures in adults operated with expert tibial nailing

Background: Fractures of the tibial shaft are increasing due to high velocity trauma and industrialisation. Not only they are common but also difficult to treat. Until recently surgeons had to rely on non-operative treatment, V nailing, plates and screws and external fixator but they had their drawbacks like prolonged immobilisation infection, delayed union and non-union. Numerous modifications in nail and screw design have led to development of the expert tibial nail. Multidirectional interlocking screws ensure that alignment can be well maintained and stability preserved in short proximal or distal tibial segments.Methods: 30 patients were admitted and operated during September 2014 to September 2016 in Mamata general hospital Khammam. All patients were evaluated with Klemm Borner’s criteria and complications following surgery.Results: 87% of patients achieved good or excellent results, fair results were obtained in 3 (10%) patient and poor result in one (3%) patient. 2 (6%) patients had malunion, 2 (6%) patients had delayed union, 1 (3%) patient had deep infection led to implant failure.Conclusions: Intramedullary nailing is a safe and effective technique for the treatment of tibial metaphyseal fractures. It avoids the additional soft-tissue dissection associated with traditional open procedures as well as the complications associated with external fixators. Expert tibial nail can give excellent functional and clinical results. Complications such as failure of the bone-implant construct or post-operative malallignment are avoidable if careful pre-operative planning is allied with meticulous surgical technique

Adsorption of Oxygen Molecules on Individual Carbon Single-walled Nanotubes

Our study of the adsorption of oxygen molecules on individual semiconductiong single-walled carbon nanotubes at ambient conditions reveals that the adsorption is physisorption, that the resistance without O2 increases by ~two orders of magnitude as compared to that with O2, and that the sensitive response is due to the pinning of the Fermi level near the top of the valence band of the tube resulting from impurity states of O2 appearing above the valence band.Comment: 16 pages, 4 figure

Contextual Object Detection with a Few Relevant Neighbors

A natural way to improve the detection of objects is to consider the contextual constraints imposed by the detection of additional objects in a given scene. In this work, we exploit the spatial relations between objects in order to improve detection capacity, as well as analyze various properties of the contextual object detection problem. To precisely calculate context-based probabilities of objects, we developed a model that examines the interactions between objects in an exact probabilistic setting, in contrast to previous methods that typically utilize approximations based on pairwise interactions. Such a scheme is facilitated by the realistic assumption that the existence of an object in any given location is influenced by only few informative locations in space. Based on this assumption, we suggest a method for identifying these relevant locations and integrating them into a mostly exact calculation of probability based on their raw detector responses. This scheme is shown to improve detection results and provides unique insights about the process of contextual inference for object detection. We show that it is generally difficult to learn that a particular object reduces the probability of another, and that in cases when the context and detector strongly disagree this learning becomes virtually impossible for the purposes of improving the results of an object detector. Finally, we demonstrate improved detection results through use of our approach as applied to the PASCAL VOC and COCO datasets

Black Hole Masses and Star Formation Rates of z >1 Dust Obscured Galaxies (DOGs): Results from Keck OSIRIS Integral Field Spectroscopy

We have obtained high spatial resolution Keck OSIRIS integral field spectroscopy of four z~1.5 ultra-luminous infrared galaxies that exhibit broad H-alpha emission lines indicative of strong AGN activity. The observations were made with the Keck laser guide star adaptive optics system giving a spatial resolution of 0.1", or <1 kpc at these redshifts. These high spatial resolution observations help to spatially separate the extended narrow-line regions --- possibly powered by star formation --- from the nuclear regions, which may be powered by both star formation and AGN activity. There is no evidence for extended, rotating gas disks in these four galaxies. Assuming dust correction factors as high as A(H-alpha)=4.8 mag, the observations suggest lower limits on the black hole masses of (1 - 9) x 10^8 solar masses, and star formation rates <100 solar masses per year. The black hole masses and star formation rates of the sample galaxies appear low in comparison to other high-z galaxies with similar host luminosities. We explore possible explanations for these observations including, host galaxy fading, black hole growth, and the shut down of star formation.Comment: Accepted for publication in the Astronomical Journal. 12 pages, 6 figures, 5 table

Emerging methods in therapeutics using multifunctional nanoparticles

Clinical translation of nanoparticle‐based drug delivery systems is hindered by an array of challenges including poor circulation time and limited targeting. Novel approaches including designing multifunctional particles, cell‐mediated delivery systems, and fabrications of protein‐based nanoparticles have gained attention to provide new perspectives to current drug delivery obstacles in the interdisciplinary field of nanomedicine. Collectively, these nanoparticle devices are currently being investigated for applications spanning from drug delivery and cancer therapy to medical imaging and immunotherapy. Here, we review the current state of the field, highlight opportunities, identify challenges, and present the future directions of the next generation of multifunctional nanoparticle drug delivery platforms.This article is categorized under:Biology‐Inspired Nanomaterials > Protein and Virus‐Based StructuresNanotechnology Approaches to Biology > Nanoscale Systems in BiologyNovel approaches in designing nanoparticles to overcome challenges faced by traditional nanoparticle‐based drug delivery systems.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/155963/1/wnan1625.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/155963/2/wnan1625_am.pd

Valsartan for attenuating disease evolution in early sarcomeric hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: the design of the Valsartan for Attenuating Disease Evolution in Early Sarcomeric Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (VANISH) trial

Background: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is often caused by sarcomere gene mutations, resulting in left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), myocardial fibrosis, and increased risk of sudden cardiac death and heart failure. Studies in mouse models of sarcomeric HCM demonstrated that early treatment with an angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) reduced development of LVH and fibrosis. In contrast, prior human studies using ARBs for HCM have targeted heterogeneous adult cohorts with well-established disease. The VANISH trial is testing the safety and feasibility of disease-modifying therapy with an ARB in genotyped HCM patients with early disease. Methods: A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trial is being conducted in sarcomere mutation carriers, 8 to 45 years old, with HCM and no/minimal symptoms, or those with early phenotypic manifestations but no LVH. Participants are randomly assigned to receive valsartan 80 to 320 mg daily (depending on age and weight) or placebo. The primary endpoint is a composite of 9 z-scores in domains representing myocardial injury/hemodynamic stress, cardiac morphology, and function. Total z-scores reflecting change from baseline to final visits will be compared between treatment groups. Secondary endpoints will assess the impact of treatment on mutation carriers without LVH, and analyze the influence of age, sex, and genotype. Conclusions: The VANISH trial is testing a new strategy of disease modification for treating sarcomere mutation carriers with early HCM, and those at risk for its development. In addition, further insight into disease mechanisms, response to therapy, and phenotypic evolution will be gained