Influence of cross-sectional geometry on the sensitivity and hysteresis of liquid-phase electronic pressure sensors

Cross-sectional geometry influences the pressure-controlled conductivity of liquid-phase metalchannels embedded in an elastomer film. These soft microfluidic films may function as hyperelastic electric wiring or sensors that register the intensity of surface pressure. As pressureis applied to the elastomer, the cross-section of the embedded channel deforms, and theelectrical resistance of the channel increases. In an effort to improve sensitivity and reducesensor nonlinearity and hysteresis, we compare the electrical response of 0.25 mm2 channels with different cross-sectional geometries. We demonstrate that channels with a triangular or concave cross-section exhibit the least nonlinearity and hysteresis over pressures ranging from 0 to 70 kPa. These experimental results are in reasonable agreement with predictions made by theoretical calculations that we derive from elasticity and Ohm's Law.</p

Monolithic Integration of Nanoscale Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Membranes onto Polymer Scaffolds through Stress Control

Ultrathin fast-ion conducting oxide membranes are of broad interest to a range of energy conversion technologies. We demonstrate a low-temperature (<30 °C) process for controlling internal stress in an archetypal fast-ion conductor, crystalline Y₂O₃-doped ZrO₂ (YDZ), which allows us to form stable suspended nanomembranes akin to those fabricated at high temperature (>550 °C). Such a low-temperature synthesis method then enables us to monolithically integrate the suspended oxide-ion conducting membranes onto polyimide (Kapton by DuPont), a polymer with vastly different physical properties than that of a ceramic. Integrated functional heterostructure solid oxide fuel cells operable below the glass transition temperature of the polymer are demonstrated. Our results describe a mechanistic low-temperature processing route for forming stable multifunctional membrane structures, applicable to the realization of various energy conversion and sensing devices and structural skins for miniature autonomous systems

S1.mp4 from Dynamics and flight control of a flapping-wing robotic insect in the presence of wind gusts

Electronic supplementary vide

A comparison of <i>Y. pestis</i> and <i>E. coli</i> Dam kinetic parameters.

<p>Kinetic data for <i>Y. pestis</i> Dam was obtained from a SigmaPlot fitted hyperbola of the form <i>v</i> = <i>V</i>_max [S]/<i>K</i>_M+[S].</p

Dependence of Dam activity on substrate concentration. (A) AdoMet and (B) oligonucleotide 1.

<p>Dependence of Dam activity on substrate concentration. (A) AdoMet and (B) oligonucleotide 1.</p

Inhibition of Dam by <i>S</i>-adenosylhomocysteine.

<p>(A) A double reciprocal plot of methylation rate against AdoMet concentration. <i>S</i>-adenosylhomocysteine concentrations were; 0 (•), 5 (○), 10 (▾), 15 (Δ), 20 (▪), 30 (□) and 40 (♦) µM. (B) Apparent <i>K</i>_M plotted against the concentration of <i>S</i>-adenosylhomocysteine.</p

High throughput assay validation.

<p>Rate of fluorescence increase was monitored over 96 wells (wells 1–48 contained positive control assays, wells 49–96 contained negative control assays with no Dam). The solid trend lines indicate the mean rate of fluorescence increase for the positive/negative control datasets; the broken lines indicate the ±3 standard deviations from the mean, which is the 99.7% confidence limit.</p

Break light Dam activity assay.

<p>The fluorescence of the hemimethylated substrate oligonucleotide 1 is internally quenched by the dabcyl group. It is a substrate for Dam and yields the fully methylated product 2, which is rapidly cleaved by DpnI, thus forming fluorescent oligonucleotide 3.</p

Soft manipulator setup on the ROV.

<p>A: The soft manipulators are installed on the retractable tray of the ROV. B: The manifold, pump, control bottle, and accumulator are installed on the port rear side. These were developed as part of a previous study [<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0200386#pone.0200386.ref009" target="_blank">9</a>].</p

A challenging grasping situation.

<p>An aplacophoran mollusc at the base of a delicate coral was difficult to grasp without damaging the coral.</p