Cavitation Induction by Projectile Impacting on a Water Jet

The present paper focuses on the simulation of the high-velocity impact of a projectile impacting on a water-jet, causing the onset, development and collapse of cavitation. The simulation of the fluid motion is carried out using an explicit, compressible, density-based solver developed by the authors using the OpenFOAM library. It employs a barotropic two-phase flow model that simulates the phase-change due to cavitation and considers the co-existence of non-condensable and immiscible air. The projectile is considered to be rigid while its motion through the computational domain is modelled through a direct-forcing Immersed Boundary Method. Model validation is performed against the experiments of Field et al. [Field, J., Camus, J. J., Tinguely, M., Obreschkow, D., Farhat, M., 2012. Cavitation in impacted drops and jets and the effect on erosion damage thresholds. Wear 290–291, 154–160. doi:10.1016/j.wear.2012.03.006. URL http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0043164812000968 ], who visualised cavity formation and shock propagation in liquid impacts at high velocities. Simulations unveil the shock structures and capture the high-speed jetting forming at the impact location, in addition to the subsequent cavitation induction and vapour formation due to refraction waves. Moreover, model predictions provide quantitative information and a better insight on the flow physics that has not been identified from the reported experimental data, such as shock-wave propagation, vapour formation quantity and induced pressures. Furthermore, evidence of the Richtmyer-Meshkov instability developing on the liquid-air interface are predicted when sufficient dense grid resolution is utilised

Long-lasting FR-4 surface hydrophilisation towards commercial PCB passive microfluidics

Printed circuit boards (PCB) technologies are an attractive system for simple sensing and microfluidic systems. Controlling the surface properties of PCB material is an important part of this technology and to date there has been no study on long-term hydrophilisation stability of these materials. In this work, the effect of different oxygen plasma input power and treatment duration times on the wetting properties of FR-4 surfaces was investigated by sessile droplet contact angle measurements. Super and weakly hydrophilic behaviour was achieved and the retention time of these properties was studied, with the hydrophilic nature being retained for at least 26 days. To demonstrate the applicability of this treatment method, a commercially manufactured microfluidic structure made from a multilayer PCB (3-layer FR-4 stack) was exposed to oxygen plasma at the optimum conditions. The structures could be filled with deionised (DI) water under capillary flow unlike the virgin devices

A polarized atomic hydrogen beam

We describe the design and operating characteristics of a simple polarized atomic hydrogen beam particularly suitable for applications to crossed beams experiments. In addition to experimental measurements, we present the results of detailed computer models, using Monte-Carlo ray tracing techniques, optical analogs, and phase-space methods, that not only provide us with a confirmation of our measurement, but also allow us to characterize the density, polarization, and atomic fraction of the beam at all points along its path. As a subsidiary result, we also present measurements of the relative and absolute efficiencies of the V/G Supavac mass analyzer for masses 1 and 2

The Lab-on-PCB framework for affordable, electronic-based point-of-care diagnostics: From design to manufacturing

A novel, Lab-on-Printed Circuit Board (LoPCB) manufacturing technology is demonstrated for the development of low-cost electrochemical biosensors combined with microfluidics for Point-of-Care (PoC) applications. An analysis of the developed PCB architecture is presented, detailing the three development areas of the proposed LoPCB platform, i.e. microfluidics, biosensors and electronics. Design rules and potential fabrication limitations are also discussed, based on the characterization of prototype fabricated systems. Two PCB-based devices have been designed and fabricated, a microfluidic active diluter with a variable and actively controlled dilution ratio and an electrochemical biosensor. The obtained results demonstrate the feasibility of a complete LoPCB platform, where all three compartments will co-exist and co-operate, providing an electronic-based PoC system for electrochemical biosensing

First Report of Sylvatic DENV-2-Associated Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever in West Africa

Dengue virus (DENV) circulates in human and sylvatic cycles. Sylvatic strains are both ecologically and evolutionarily distinct from endemic viruses. Although sylvatic dengue cycles occur in West African countries and Malaysia, only a few cases of mild human disease caused by sylvatic strains and one single case of dengue hemorrhagic fever in Malaysia have been reported. Here we report a case of dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) with thrombocytopenia (13000/µl), a raised hematocrit (32% above baseline) and mucosal bleeding in a 27-year-old male returning to Spain in November 2009 after visiting his home country Guinea Bissau. Sylvatic DENV-2 West African lineage was isolated from blood and sera. This is the first case of DHF associated with sylvatic DENV-2 in Africa and the second case worldwide of DHF caused by a sylvatic strain

A novel microfluidic point-of-care biosensor system on printed circuit board for cytokine detection

Point of Care (PoC) diagnostics have been the subject of considerable research over the last few decades driven by the pressure to detect diseases quickly and effectively and reduce healthcare costs. Herein, we demonstrate a novel, fully integrated, microfluidic amperometric enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) prototype using a commercial interferon gamma release assay (IGRA) as a model antibody binding system. Microfluidic assay chemistry was engineered to take place on Au-plated electrodes within an assay cell on a printed circuit board (PCB)-based biosensor system. The assay cell is linked to an electrochemical reporter cell comprising microfluidic architecture, Au working and counter electrodes and a Ag/AgCl reference electrode, all manufactured exclusively via standard commercial PCB fabrication processes. Assay chemistry has been optimised for microfluidic diffusion kinetics to function under continual flow. We characterised the electrode integrity of the developed platforms with reference to biological sampling and buffer composition and subsequently we demonstrated concentration-dependent measurements of H2O2 depletion as resolved by existing FDA-validated ELISA kits. Finally, we validated the assay technology in both buffer and serum and demonstrate limits of detection comparable to high-end commercial systems with the addition of full microfluidic assay architecture capable of returning diagnostic analyses in approximately eight minutes

Evaluating an innovative approach to the diagnostic processes for chronic eye disease: a feasibility study

The aim of this study was to develop a framework that would support the evaluation of new ways of diagnosing and monitoring chronic eye disease being planned and implemented by a large NHS hospital. The study involved interviews with a range of health care professionals within the Trust, observation of glaucoma outpatient clinics and related meetings, analysis of routinely collected data, and planning an economic analysis to evaluate the cost and cost-effectiveness of the new service. The information used to inform this study was collected between February 2013 and June 2014. The framework highlights three areas that should be taken into account when evaluating innovation: (1) organisational context, (2) operational impact, and (3) cost and cost effectiveness relative to existing services. In relation to organisational context, those evaluating innovation should seek to understand how different professional groups are involved in, and affected by, the implementation of change and aim to identify the underlying social and organisational factors that may inhibit or support the implementation of innovation. Evaluation should also aim to capture patients’ perceptions of existing services and proposed changes to services and how changes to the delivery of services may affect interactions between patients and clinical staff. From an operational perspective, quantitative analysis should aim to provide estimates of the level of improvement required to meet the challenges presented by anticipated increases in the burden of disease and the likely impact of the suggested changes on patient access metrics. To undertake an economic analysis of the new service, researchers should consider the main cost components of the new and existing services, how to collect resource use and unit cost data for each of these cost components, and a range of potential outcome measures

A Novel Microfluidic Point-of-Care Biosensor System on Printed Circuit Board for Cytokine Detection

Point of Care (PoC) diagnostics have been the subject of considerable research over the last few decades driven by the pressure to detect diseases quickly and effectively and reduce healthcare costs. Herein, we demonstrate a novel, fully integrated, microfluidic amperometric enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) prototype using a commercial interferon gamma release assay (IGRA) as a model antibody binding system. Microfluidic assay chemistry was engineered to take place on Au-plated electrodes within an assay cell on a printed circuit board (PCB)-based biosensor system. The assay cell is linked to an electrochemical reporter cell comprising microfluidic architecture, Au working and counter electrodes and a Ag/AgCl reference electrode, all manufactured exclusively via standard commercial PCB fabrication processes. Assay chemistry has been optimised for microfluidic diffusion kinetics to function under continual flow. We characterised the electrode integrity of the developed platforms with reference to biological sampling and buffer composition and subsequently we demonstrated concentration-dependent measurements of H₂O₂ depletion as resolved by existing FDA-validated ELISA kits. Finally, we validated the assay technology in both buffer and serum and demonstrate limits of detection comparable to high-end commercial systems with the addition of full microfluidic assay architecture capable of returning diagnostic analyses in approximately eight minutes

An Assay System for Point-of-Care Diagnosis of Tuberculosis using Commercially Manufactured PCB Technology

Rapid advances in clinical technologies, detection sensitivity and analytical throughput have delivered a significant expansion in our knowledge of prognostic and diagnostic biomarkers in many common infectious diseases, such as Tuberculosis (TB). During the last decade, a significant number of approaches to TB diagnosis have been attempted at Point-of-Care (PoC), exploiting a large variation of techniques and materials. In this work, we describe an electronics-based Enzyme-Linked ImmunoSorbent Assay (eELISA), using a Lab-on-a-Printed Circuit Board (LoPCB) approach, for TB diagnosis based on cytokine detection. The test relies upon an electrochemical (amperometric) assay, comprising a high-precision bioinstrumentation board and amperometric sensors, produced exclusively using standard PCB manufacturing processes. Electrochemical detection uses standard Au and Ag electrodes together with a bespoke, low-power, multichannel, portable data-acquisition system. We demonstrate high-performance assay chemistry performed at microfluidic volumes on Au pads directly at the PCB surface with improved limit of detection (~10 pg/mL) over standard colorimetric ELISA methods. The assay has also been implemented in plasma, showing the utility of the system for medical applications. This work is a significant step towards the development of a low-cost, portable, high-precision diagnostic and monitoring technology, which once combined with appropriate PCB-based microfluidic networks will provide complete LoPCB platforms