Incorporating nanomaterials with MEMS devices.

This dissertation demonstrates an elegant method, known as \u27micro-origami\u27 or strain architecture to design and fabricate three-dimensional MEMS structures which are assembled using actuation of a metal-oxide bilayer with conventional planar lithography. Folding allows creating complex, robust, three-dimensional shapes from two-dimensional material simply by choosing folds in the right order and orientation, small disturbances of the initial shape may also be used to produce different final shapes. These are referred to as pop-up structures in this work. The scope of this work presented the deposition of colloidal gold nanoparticles (GNPs) into conformal thin films using a microstenciling technique. Results illustrated that the gold nanoparticle deposition process can easily be integrated into current MEMS microfabrication processes. Thin films of GNPs deposited onto the surfaces of siliconbased bistable MEMS and test devices were shown to have a significant effect on the heating up of microstructures that cause them to fold. The dissertation consists of four chapters, covering details of fabrication methods, theoretical simulations, experimental work, and existing and potential applications. Chapter II illustrates how control of the folding order can generate complex three-dimensional objects from metal-oxide bilayers using this approach. By relying on the fact that narrower structures are released from the substrate first, it is possible to create multiaxis loops and interlinked objects with several sequential release steps, using a single photomask. The structures remain planar until released by dry silicon etching, making it possible to integrate them with other MEMS and microelectronic devices early in the process. Chapter III depicts the fabrication process of different types of bistable structures. It describes the principle of functioning of such structures, and simulations using CoventorWare are used to support the concept. We talk over about advantages and disadvantages of bistable structures, and discuss possible applications. Chapter IV describes fabrication procedure of nanoparticle-MEMS hybrid device. We introduce a convenient synthesis of GNPs with precisely controlled optical absorption in the NIR region by a single step reaction ofHAuCl4 and Na2S203. We take a look at different techniques to pattern gold nanoparticles on the surface of MEMS structures, and also provide a study of their thermal properties under near IR stimulation. We demonstrate the first approach of laser-driven bistable MEMS actuators for bioapplications. Finally, in Conclusion discuss the contributions of this dissertation, existent limitations and plans of the future work

Verbs of perception in western romanic languages and phenomenon of Deixis

This article considers the verbs of perception in the three Western Romanic languages: French, Italian and Spanish. In the present paper the bond between deixis and verbs of perception is being investigated. The research has revealed a fundamental difference between a field of indication and a symbolic field, which refers to cognitive, emotional, axiological moduses derived from the modus of perception. The analysis of the material has given grounds to introduce correlative notions of primary and secondary deixis. Depending on the conduct of agential, time and spatial coordinates in the discourse they form primary and secondary deixis of the deictic-field and primary and secondary deixis of the symbolic fieldyesBelgorod State Universit

Thermal interaction of biological tissue with nanoparticles heated by laser radiation

We explore the problem of thermal interaction of nanoparticles heated by laser radiation with a biological tissue after particle flow entering the cell. The solution of the model equations is obtained numerically under the following assumptions: a single particle is located in a neighborhood exceeding the particle size; the environment surrounding the particle is water with the conventional thermal characteristics. The model equations are deduced from the particle and the environment energy conditions taking into account the heat transfer in the particle and in its environment by conduction. We also assume that at the boundary between the particle and the surrounding water the perfect thermal contact takes place

Cortical plasticity elicited by acoustically cued monetary losses: An ERP study

Both human and animal studies have demonstrated remarkable findings of experience-induced plasticity in the cortex. Here, we investigated whether the widely used monetary incentive delay (MID) task changes the neural processing of incentive cues that code expected monetary outcomes. We used a novel auditory version of the MID task, where participants responded to acoustic cues that coded expected monetary losses. To investigate task-induced brain plasticity, we presented incentive cues as deviants during passive oddball tasks before and after two sessions of the MID task. During the oddball task, we recorded the mismatch-related negativity (MMN) as an index of cortical plasticity. We found that two sessions of the MID task evoked a significant enhancement of MMN for incentive cues that predicted large monetary losses, specifically when monetary cue discrimination was essential for maximising monetary outcomes. The task-induced plasticity correlated with the learning-related neural activity recorded during the MID task. Thus, our results confirm that the processing of (loss)incentive auditory cues is dynamically modulated by previously learned monetary outcomes

From environmental protection to sustainable development and «green economy»: national project of education greening in Kazakhstan

The aim of the investigation is to show an education system role during transition to "green economy" – to a new stage of development of world economy.Methods. The methods involve the analysis and generalization of contents of the international and interstate documents of the Republic of Kazakhstan urged to provide sustainable social and economic development. Retrospective and project analysis of course processes features of social and economic system greening of Kazakhstan is also applied.Results and scientific novelty. The essence of the concepts «green economy», "ecological enlightenment", "ecological education" and "greening of society" are disclosed. The Kazakh national specifics of implementation of the international documents on implementation of model of a sustainable development are shown. The Concept of ecological formation of the Republic of Kazakhstan according to which the education system of the country is urged to create, develop and fix effectively, along with a necessary complex of knowledge, stereotypes of behavior of the people capable to make reasonable decisions is provided and to work according to legislatively consolidated nature protection regulations and standards. It is stated that greening of content of education in the republic has the developed regulatory framework, however additional measures for upgrade of an education system are necessary: its theoretical and methodological reasons, preparation and advanced training of pedagogical personnel, development of the new methodical means bring into focus an ecological orientation of training and education, etc.Practical significance. Measures for further improvement of ecological education and ecological education at all steps of education are listed. Цель статьи – продемонстрировать роль системы образования в период перехода к «зеленой экономике» – новому этапу развития мировых экономик. Методы. В процессе работы использовались анализ и обобщение содержания международных и внутригосударственных документов Республики Казахстан, призванных обеспечить устойчивое социальное и экономическое развитие. Применялись также ретроспективный и проектный анализ особенностей протекания процессов экологизации социально-экономической системы Казахстана. Результаты и научная новизна. Раскрыта сущность понятий «зеленая экономика», «экологическое просвещение», «экологическое образование» и «экологизация общества». Показана казахская национальная специфика реализации международных документов по имплементации модели устойчивого развития. Представлена Концепция экологического образования Республики Казахстан, согласно которой система образования страны призвана эффективно формировать, развивать и закреплять, наряду с необходимым комплексом знаний, стереотипы поведения людей, способных принимать целесообразные решения и действовать в соответствии с законодательно закрепленными природоохранными нормами и стандартами. Констатируется, что экологизация содержания образования в республике имеет развитую нормативно-правовую базу, однако необходимы дополнительные меры по модернизации системы образования: ее теоретико-методологическое обоснование, подготовка и повышение квалификации педагогических кадров, разработка новых методических средств, актуализирующих экологическую направленность обучения и воспитания, и т. д. Практическая значимость. Перечислены меры по дальнейшему совершенствованию экологического образования и экологического просвещения на всех ступенях образования.

Sequential and counter-selectable cassettes for fission yeast

BACKGROUND: Fission yeast is one of the most commonly used model organisms for studying genetics. For selection of desirable genotypes, antibiotic resistance cassettes are widely integrated into the genome near genes of interest. In yeasts, this is achieved by PCR amplification of the cassette flanked by short homology sequences, which can be incorporated by homology directed repair. However, the currently available cassettes all share the same tef promoter and terminator sequences. It can therefore be challenging to perform multiple genetic modifications by PCR-based targeting, as existing resistance cassettes in strains can be favored for recombination due to shared homology between the cassettes. RESULTS: Here we have generated new selection cassettes that do not recombine with those traditionally used. We achieved this by swapping the tef promoter and terminator sequences in the established antibiotic resistance MX6 cassette series for alternative promoters and/or terminators. The newly created selection cassettes did not recombine with the tef-containing MX6 cassettes already present in the genome, allowing for sequential gene targeting using the PCR-based method. In addition, we have generated a series of plasmids to facilitate the C-terminal tagging of genes with desired epitopes. We also utilized the anti-selection gene HSV-TK, which results in cell death in strains grown on the drug 5-Fluoro-2'-deoxyuridine (FdU, Floxuridin or FUDR). By fusing an antibiotic resistance gene to HSV-TK, we were able to select on the relevant antibiotic as well as counter-select on FdU media to confirm the desired genomic modification had been made. We noted that the efficiency of the counter selection by FdU was enhanced by treatment with hydroxyurea. However, a number of DNA replication checkpoint and homologous recombination mutants, including rad3∆, cds1∆, rad54∆ and rad55∆, exhibited sensitivity to FdU even though those strains did not carry the HSV-TK gene. To remove counter-selectable markers, we introduced the Cre-loxP irreversible recombination method. Finally, utilizing the negative selectable markers, we showed efficient induction of point mutations in an endogenous gene by a two-step transformation method. CONCLUSIONS: The plasmid constructs and techniques described here are invaluable tools for sequential gene targeting and will simplify construction of fission yeast strains required for study