Optimization of Cricket-inspired, Biomimetic Artificial Hair Sensors for Flow Sensing

High density arrays of artificial hair sensors, biomimicking the extremely sensitive mechanoreceptive filiform hairs found on cerci of crickets have been fabricated successfully. We assess the sensitivity of these artificial sensors and present a scheme for further optimization addressing the deteriorating effects of stress in the structures. We show that, by removing a portion of chromium electrodes close to the torsional beams, the upward lift at the edges of the membrane due to the stress, will decrease hence increase the sensitivity.Comment: Submitted on behalf of EDA Publishing Association (http://irevues.inist.fr/EDA-Publishing

Take a new turn: relationships between corporate identity management and corporate reputation in a hospitality context

What are the main factors influencing corporate identity management? and what are the key factors that influence corporate reputation favorably? Results showed that philosophy, vision, mission, and top management driving force positively influence corporate identity management

Torsional characteristics of carbon nanotubes: Micropolar elasticity models and molecular dynamics simulation

Efficient application of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in nano-devices and nano-materials requires comprehensive understanding of their mechanical properties. As observations suggest size dependent behaviour, non-classical theories preserving the memory of body’s internal structure via additional material parameters offer great potential when a continuum modelling is to be preferred. In the present study, micropolar theory of elasticity is adopted due to its peculiar character allowing for incorporation of scale effects through additional kinematic descriptors and work-conjugated stress measures. An optimisation approach is presented to provide unified material parameters for two specific class of single-walled carbon nanotubes (e.g., armchair and zigzag) by minimizing the difference between the apparent shear modulus obtained from molecular dynamics (MD) simulation and micropolar beam model considering both solid and tubular cross-sections. The results clearly reveal that micropolar theory is more suitable compared to internally constraint couple stress theory, due to the essentiality of having skew-symmetric stress and strain measures, as well as to the classical local theory (Cauchy of Grade 1), which cannot accounts for scale effects. To the best of authors’ knowledge, this is the first time that unified material parameters of CNTs are derived through a combined MD-micropolar continuum theory

Creation of an Annotated Library on FDA Approved Nanomedicines

Nanomedicine is a type of nanotechnology used in the medical field to limit the dosage amount and target drug delivery to specific cells. Nanomedicines that are approved and used tend to be extremely successful; however despite over a decade of research, only a limited number of nanomedicines have advanced for clinical use. A possible reason for the numerous nanomedicine failures is lack of easily accessible information and research on previous nanomedicines. In this project, we have compiled nanomedicine labeling information from the Drugs@FDA website. We have extracted phrases/sentences from labels relating to keywords on nanomaterial properties and drug profile characteristics. In the future, we plan to incorporate discontinued nanomedicines, nanomedicines on the market, and nanomedicines in different clinical trial phases. By compiling the descriptions and contents of a set of specific nanomedicines, a machine learning program could be developed to comb through literature and automatically identify similar nanomedicine related entities. Our research works to provide an easier and quicker method to obtain specific information on approved nanomedicines.https://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/uresposters/1175/thumbnail.jp

Speed of light in the extended gravity theories

We shall investigate the possibility of formulation of varying speed of light (VSL) in the framework of Palatini non-linear Ricci scalar and Ricci squared theories. Different speeds of light including the causal structure constant, electromagnetic, and gravitational wave speeds are discussed. We shall see that two local frames are distinguishable and discuss about the velocity of light in these two frames. We shall investigate which one of these local frames is inertial.Comment: 19 pages. to appear in Classical Quantum Gravit