Selective RF wireless control of integrated bulk-micromachined shape-memory-alloy actuators and its microfluidic application

This paper reports wireless microfluidic control enabled by selective operation of multiple bulk-micromachined shape-memory-alloy actuators using radiofrequency external magnetic fields. Each shape-memory-alloy actuator is driven by a wireless resonant heater, which generates heat only when the field frequency is tuned to the resonant frequency of the heater. Multiple actuators coupled with the heater circuits that are designed to have different resonant frequencies in a range of 135-295 MHz are selectively controlled by modulating the field frequency to the resonant frequencies of the corresponding heaters with a constant output power. A wireless microsyringe device that has three actuator-heater components and a flexible parylene reservoir is developed. The 5-µl reservoir is squeezed by the 5-mm-long cantilever-type SMA actuators to eject controlled amounts of liquid from the reservoir. Wireless modification of pH in liquid is demonstrated using the device loaded with acidic solution through the selective control of the three actuators based on the frequency modulation technique

Frequency-controlled wireless shape-memory-alloy microactuators integrated using an electroplating bonding process

This paper reports the wireless control of bulk-micromachined shape-memory-alloy actuators using external radiofrequency magnetic fields and its application to microgrippers. The frequency-sensitive wireless resonant heater to which the gripper actuator is bonded is activated only when the field frequency is tuned to the resonant frequency of the heater. A batch-compatible bonding technique based on photo-defined copper electroplating is developed to mechanically and thermally couple the gripper with the planar heater circuit fabricated using copper-clad polyimide film. The actuation range of 600 µm as the tip opening distance is obtained with normally closed 5-mm long grippers at a device temperature of 92 °C. The field frequency range to which the devices with 140-MHz resonant frequency respond is measured to be ~13 MHz about the resonant frequency. The manipulation of vertically aligned carbon-nanotube forests is experimentally demonstrated. Mechanical stress tests for the bond formed by the developed electroplating bonding method show a shear strength greater than 40 MPa

Kata soal dalam dialek Perlis

Artikel ini membincangkan kata soal dalam dialek Perlis. Data yang digunakan dalam kajian ini diambil daripada kajian lapangan yang dilakukan di negeri Perlis. Perlis adalah sebuah negeri yang kecil; terdiri daripada 3 daerah iaitu Padang Besar, Kangar dan Arau. Namun ketiga-tiga daerah ini mempunyai 22 mukim yang merangkumi 228 buah kampung. Oleh itu untuk memudahkan kajian, kawasan kajian dikenal pasti melalui grid geografi GPS yang telah dilakar berpandukan skala 5km: 1cm. Hasil daripada lakaran itu sebanyak 40 kotak grid telah dihasilkan. Setiap kotak grid itu diwakili oleh sebuah kampung. Sebanyak dua responden daripada setiap kampung telah dikenal pasti berpandukan kriteria NORMs. Data primer ini diperoleh melalui proses temu bual yang dilaksanakan terhadap responden yang menutur dialek Perlis ini. Analisis ini mendapati bahawa kata soal ini boleh dipecahkan kepada dua kategori iaitu kata soal adjung bagi kata mengkala atau bila (bila), gheno atau macam mana (bagaimana), brapa (berapa) dan awat (kenapa)) manakala kata soal komplemen pula bagi kata apa, sapo (siapa) dan mana. Analisis ini mendapati bahawa semua kata soal dalam dialek Perlis mempunyai sifat yang sama iaitu boleh hadir pada kedudukan depan, tengah dan akhir ayat soal. Kajian mendakwa bahawa kesemua kata soal dalam dialek Perlis boleh bersifat bergerak dan in-situ

Development Of Test Platform Of Fpga Interconnect To Capture Marginal Open Defect

This research highlights the development of test platform of FPGA interconnect to capture marginal open defect on Altera® Stratix V devices. The need for at-speed test was due to the increasing number of marginal open defects, resulting from manufacturing process complexity anticipated from continuously shrinking transistors towards nanometer (nm) scale. The defect was unable to be captured by current stuck-at test and this research utilized the Launch on Shift (LOS) transition delay method to detect the marginal open defects. Towards the final implementation, there are few unique design implemented in order to generate the at-speed clocks and the pipelined scan enable signals to support LOS method. Meanwhile, the ability to test the interconnect on at-speed frequency required new routing tool control variables to limit the interconnect path lengths and device power consumption. The control variables are discussed further in this research. The LOS test patterns used in this research managed to cover up to 81% of the overall routing resources for marginal open defect effectively. Furthermore, the test was successfully implemented at frequencies up to 400 MHz and proven to be sensitive to routing delay to capture marginal open defects. The ability to capture the defect with only 0.56 kΩ resistance is better than the initial 3 kΩ target in this research. It is also better than other literatures which targeted between 6 kΩ to 10 kΩ only

Transitiviti dalam bahasa Mendriq

Malaysia kaya dengan 19 bahasa Moribun yang dituturkan oleh kaum minoriti di Malaysia yang dikenali sebagai Orang Asli. Salah satu daripada bahasa Moribun yang diambang kepupusan ialah bahasa Mendriq. Bahasa Mendriq merupakan bahasa yang digunakan oleh kaum orang asli Mendriq di Kuala Lah, Gua Musang, Kelantan. Bahasa ini dituturkan oleh 245 orang di sekitar tiga buah kampung, iaitu di kampung Kuala Lah, kampung Baru dan kampung Kuala Stail.Kertas kerja ini akan menganalisis frasa kerja transitif dan tak transitif dalam bahasa Mendriq. Data primari bahasa Mendriq diperoleh melalui kajian lapangan yang telah dibiayai oleh dana penyelidikan UKM-GUP-PLW-08-11-047. Data yang dikutip untuk kajian ini melibatkan metodologi lapangan yang menggunakan teknik temu bual. Kerencaman data yang dikutip melalui kerja lapangan telah dibersihkan dan diasingkan dengan bantuan seorang penutur natif Mendriq yang bertindak sebagai penterjemah. Analisis ke atas frasa kerja melibatkan analisis deskriptif dan analisis teoritikal. Analisis deskriptif ke atas ayat mudah mendapati bahawa bahasa Mendriq mempunyai dua jenis frasa kerja, iaitu frasa kerja transitif dan tak transitif. Kata kerja transitif menandakan dua argumen, iaitu argumen dalam dan argumen luaran. Kata kerja tak transitif pula dibahagikan kepada dua, iaitu kata kerja tak akusatif dan kata kerja tak ergatif. Kata kerja tak transitif yang menandakan argumen luaran dikenali sebagai kata kerja tak ergatif, manakala kata kerja tak transitif yang hanya menandakan argumen dalaman dikenali sebagai kata kerja tak akusatif. Manakala analisis teoritikal menggunakan kerangka Minimalist menunjukkan bahawa pemyemakan fitur berlaku di sebelah kiri struktur sintaksis ayat mudah bahasa Mendriq

High Velocity Impact Analysis Of Glass Epoxy-Laminated Plates

An experimental investigation on the effect of thickness on fiberglass reinforced epoxy matrix which is subjected to impact loading was conducted. The composite structure consists of Type C-glass/Epoxy 200 g/m2 and Type C-glass/Epoxy 600 g/m2. The material is used as a composite reinforcement in high performance applications since it provides certain advantages of specific high strength and stiffness as compared to metallic materials. This study investigates the mechanical properties, damage characterization and impact resistance of both composite structures, subjected to the changes of impact velocity and thickness. For mechanical properties testing, the Universal Testing Machine was used while for the high velocity impact, a compressed gas gun equipped with a velocity measurement system was used.From the results, it is found that the mechanical properties, damage characterization and impact resistance of Type C-glass/Epoxy 600 g/m2 posses better toughness, modulus and penetration compared to Type C-glass/Epoxy 200 g/m2. A general trend was observed on the overall ballistic test results which indicated that as the plate specimen thickness continues to increase, the damage at the lower skin decreases and could not be seen. Moreover, it is also found that, as the plate thickness increases, the maximum impact load and impact energy increases relatively. Impact damage was found to be in the form of perforation, fiber breakage and matrix cracking. Results from this research can be used as a reference in designing structural and body armour applications in developing a better understanding of test methods used to characterize impact behaviour

Assessment of Natural and Anthropogenic Environmental Effects in the Costal Areas between Abu Dhabi and Dubai – Application of Remote Sensing

The present work represents an attempt to detect changes induced by both natural and anthropogenic activities to the coastal area extending between the cities of Abu Dhabi and Dubai, United Arab Emirates. This area is dominated by islands, bars, tidal channels and embayment regimes and flanked by coastal sabkhas that give way to the great sand dunes, which represent an extension of the Empty Quarter desert. The area is also characterized by the existence of many aquatic systems such as coral reefs and the oolitic shoals around Abu Dhabi city. It was the site of many human activities in the pre-oil era, such as pearl diving. During the last three decades, the study area has witnessed deep and widespread changes as part of the urbanization process that has impacted the whole United Arab Emirates. Examples of such activities include coastal modification, large scale construction, oil well drilling and many other similar activities, some of which are really big in scale. Such activities have affected significantly the components of the natural ecosystems as well as the physical and chemical properties of the area, including its geomorphology and topography. In the study, some of these changes were traced and detected using remote sensing and direct visual observation, such as ground truthing where ever possible. The study focused on visual analysis mainly due to the scarcity of old data from the pre-oil era. However, wherever possible a quantitative approach was attempted when data was available. Maj or changes in the studied area are in the form of large scale urbanization in residential, commercial and industrial development of both continental and aquatic environments. Some of these are of a drastic scale and have affected significantly the pristine environment. These changes were detected and contrasted from the available images and then documented using ground photography. In some cases, vector layers were extracted and superimposed to give an idea about the extent of such changes. Such studies are essential to document the baseline environmental and man-made environmental components and to trace changes over time. These studies should be part of the future coastal management in the United Arab Emirates

Pressure Utilization in Water Transmission Pipelines in Alain Region Considering Transient Conditions

The residual pressure energy available in water transmission pipelines can be easily utilized via direct connection to the distribution system and bypassing the storage reservoirs and booster pumping stations. This thesis investigates the feasibility of bypassing a number of reservoirs and pumping stations in a small transmission system in AlAin City of United Arab Emirates. The system has a major transmission pumping station (AlAin Reception Pumping Station, or \u27AARS\u27) that hosts four fixed-speed pumps, a main 1200mm line, storage reservoirs and boosting pumps at three zones (Dahma, Markhania and Maqam), besides few other connection pipes. The system also has three surge vessels and air valves. The objective of the study has been achieved by conducting a comprehensive transient analysis to evaluate the potential of pressure rises associated with various operating scenarios. Such scenarios were divided into normal and abnormal operating conditions. The normal operating conditions are related to the typical water supply changes occurring during any typical day. The abnormal operating conditions represent rare and odd operating scenarios such as sudden valve closures/openings and pump trips. Limiting pressure heads of 160 m for the pipe pressure rating and 60 m for the pump shutoff head were considered to identify safe performance of the proposed bypass setting. British Standards (BS), International Standard Organization (ISO) and Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority (ADWEA) Standards are adapted for the design of pipes and fittings. Simulation results associated with the normal operating conditions indicated that the proposed setting is safely performing in such conditions and has yielded safe closure times for different valves. Results of the abnormal operating conditions indicated unsafe performance in the case of sudden valve closures. To protect the system against severe transient pressures under these conditions, remedial measures are proposed. Pressure relief valves should be installed on the branches at the upstream side of the distribution network. The proposed valves are sized and evaluated when the system pressure is maintained below 100 m. The savings in energy cost associated with the proposed bypass setting is estimated about $ 850,000 per year. Such savings are found to be available after a payback period of one year and one month to cover the capital cost of the needed bypasses and pressure relief valves