Dengue Type 3 Virus, Saint Martin, 2003–2004

We describe the spread of a dengue virus during an outbreak in Saint Martin island (French West Indies) during winter 2003–2004. Dengue type 3 viruses were isolated from 6 patients exhibiting clinical symptoms. This serotype had not been detected on the island during the preceding 3 years. Genome sequence determinations and analyses showed a common origin with dengue type 3 viruses isolated in Martinique 2 years earlier

O'nyong-nyong Virus, Chad

We report the first laboratory-confirmed human infection with O'nyong-nyong virus in Chad. This virus was isolated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells of a patient with evidence of a seroconversion to a virus related to Chikungunya virus. Genome sequence was partly determined, and phylogenetic studies were conducted

Chikungunya Virus, Cameroon, 2006

We report the isolation of chikungunya virus from a patient during an outbreak of a denguelike syndrome in Cameroon in 2006. The virus was phylogenetically grouped in the Democratic Republic of the Congo cluster, indicating a continuous circulation of a genetically similar chikungunya virus population during 6 years in Central Africa

Impact of Open Access Publication from the view of journal of Mechanical Sciences

BioMechanical EngineeringMechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineerin

Classifying miniaturised generators: State-of-the-art and future of vibration energy harvesting

Although motion energy harvesting at the small scales has been a research topic for over 20 years, the implementation of such generators remains limited in practice. One of the most important contributing factors here is the poor performance of these devices under low-frequency excitation. In this research, a classification of miniaturised generators is proposed based on the dynamics of the nonlinear systems. This provides insight in the performance of different types of designs, which can be used to develop new designs with better efficiencies under realistic conditions.Mechatronic Systems Desig

A Semianalytical Approach to Large Deflections in Compliant Beams under Point Load

The deflection of compliant mechanism (CM) which involves geometrical nonlinearity due to large deflection of members continues to be an interesting problem in mechanical systems. This paper deals with an analytical investigation of large deflections in compliant mechanisms. The main objective is to propose a convenient method of solution for the large deflection problem in CMs in order to overcome the difficulty and inaccuracy of conventional methods, as well as for the purpose of mathematical modeling and optimization. For simplicity, an element is considered which is a cantilever beam out of linear elastic material under vertical end point load. This can further be used as a building block inmore complex compliant mechanisms. First, the governing equation has been obtained for the cantilever beam; subsequently, the Adomian decomposition method (ADM) has been utilized to obtain a semianalytical solution. The vertical and horizontal displacements of a cantilever beam can conveniently be obtained in an explicit analytical form. In addition, variations of the parameters that affect the characteristics of the deflection have been examined. The results reveal that the proposed procedure is very accurate, efficient, and convenient for cantilever beams, and can probably be applied to a large class of practical problems for the purpose of analysis and optimization.Biomechanical EngineeringMechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineerin

Micro-electromechanical system

Micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) comprising a substrate or substrate parts, and a compliant first segment or segments within the substrate or substrate parts with a predefined positive stiffness, wherein the first segment or segments is or are statically balanced. This is embodied by applying a second segment or segments within the substrate or substrate parts that provide a balancing force to the first segment or segments so as to counteract at least in a predefined working range of the first segment or segments the said predefined positive stiffness.Biomechanical EngineeringMechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineerin

Energy harvester

Energy harvester comprising a mass (2) that is subjectable to environmental forces for bringing it into the status of a moving mass, and means (5) linked to the mass (2) for converting and storing of energy embodied in the moving mass, which means (5) are arranged for subsequent release of said energy, wherein the mass (2) is part of a compliant system comprising a frame (6) and first and second elastic beams (3, 4) connecting the mass (2) to the frame (6), wherein the first and second elastic beams (3, 4) are provided with opposite stiffnesses so as to arrange that in a predefined range of excursions of the moving mass (2), said mass (2) experiences a preselected stiffness.Precision and Microsystems EngineeringMechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineerin