Ion Stiharu

Interdigitated comb-like electrodes for continuous separation of malignant cells from blood using dielectrophoresis.

In this paper, a method for continuous flow separation of circulating malignant cells from blood in a microfluidic device using dielectrophoresis is discussed. Separation of MDA231 breast cancer cells after mixing with normal blood cells was achieved with a level of accuracy that enabled precise counting of the malignant cells, separation and eventually, sub‐culturing. MDA231 cells were separated from the blood to a daughter channel using two pairs of interdigitated activated comb‐like electrode structures. All experiments are performed with conductivity adjusted medium samples. The electrode pairs were positioned divergent and convergent with respect to the flow. The AC signals used in the separation are 20 V peak‐to‐peak with frequencies of 10–50 kHz. The separation is based on balance of magnitude of the dielectrophoretic force and hydrodynamic force. The difference in response between circulating malignant cells and normal cells at a certain band of alternating current frequencies was used for rapid separation of cancer cells from blood. The significance of these experimental results is discussed in this paper, with detailed reporting on the suspension medium, preparation of cells, flow condition and the fabrication process of the microfluidic chip. The present technique could potentially be applied to identify incident cancer at a stage and size that is not yet detectable by standard diagnostic techniques (imaging and biochemical testing). Alternatively, it may also be used to detect cancer recurrences.

A new dynamic hysteresis model for magnetorheological dampers

Semi-actively controlled magnetorheological (MR) fluid dampers offer rapid variation in damping properties in a reliable fail-safe manner using very low power requirements. Their characteristics make them ideal for semi-active control in structures and vehicle applications in order to efficiently suppress vibration. To take advantage of their exceptional characteristics, a high fidelity model is required for control design and analysis. Perfect understanding of the dynamic characteristics of such dampers is necessary when implementing MR struts in applications. Different models have been proposed to simulate the hysteresis phenomenon of MR dampers. The Bouc–Wen model has been extensively used to simulate the hysteresis behavior of MR dampers. However, considerable differences still exist between the simulation and experimental results. Moreover, the characteristic parameters in the traditional Bouc–Wen model are not functions of the frequency, amplitude and current excitations; therefore, the estimated parameters can characterize the behavior of the tested MR damper under specific excitation conditions and must be re-evaluated if a different combination of excitation parameters is desired. This can be extremely cumbersome and computationally expensive. In this work, a new hysteresis model based on the Bouc–Wen model has been developed to better characterize the hysteresis phenomenon of the MR damper. The proposed model incorporates the frequency, amplitude and current excitation as variables and thus enables us to predict efficiently and accurately the hysteresis force for changing excitation conditions. The proposed modified Bouc–Wen model has been validated against the experimental results through graphical and quantitative analysis in time, displacement and velocity domains and an excellent correlation has been found.

Modelling the hysteresis phenomenon of magnetorheological dampers

Recently, magnetorheological (MR) dampers have emerged as a potential technology to implement semi-active control in structures and vehicle applications in order to efficiently suppress vibration. Perfect understanding about the dynamic characteristics of such dampers is necessary when implementing MR struts in application. One of the important factors to successfully attain desirable control performance is to have a damping force model which can accurately capture the inherent hysteresis behavior of MR dampers. Different models have been proposed to simulate the hysteresis phenomenon in such a kind of damper. The Bouc–Wen model has been extensively used to simulate the hysteresis behavior of MR dampers. However, considerable differences still exist between the simulation and experimental results. In this work, a methodology to find the characteristic parameters of the Bouc–Wen model in the attempt to better characterize the hysteresis phenomenon of MR dampers has been proposed. The methodology takes into consideration the effect of each individual term of the Bouc–Wen model over the hysteretic loop to estimate the appropriate values of the parameters. The Bouc–Wen model in which the new established characteristic parameters have been used has been validated against experimental data and an excellent agreement has been shown between the simulation and experimental results. Moreover, the findings pointed towards the fact that linear or exponential relationships exist between the estimated parameters and the current excitation. Considering this, a new model based on the Bouc–Wen model has been proposed in which the excitation current has been incorporated as a variable. This proposed modified Bouc–Wen model has also been validated against the experimental results and a good correlation has been found.

Three-dimensional analysis of transient slosh within a partly-filled tank equipped with baffles

The directional dynamic analyses of partly-filled tank vehicles have been limited to quasi-static fluid motion due to computational complexities associated with dynamic fluid slosh analyses. The dynamic fluid slosh causes significantly higher magnitudes of slosh forces and moments in the transient state that cannot be characterized through quasi-static approach, which provides reasonably good estimates of the mean responses. In this study, a three-dimensional nonlinear model of a partly-filled cylindrical tank with and without baffles is developed to investigate the significance of resulting destabilizing forces and moments caused by the transient fluid slosh, and the effects of baffles. The baffles and the end caps are modeled with curved shapes. The analyses are performed under varying magnitudes of steady lateral, longitudinal and combinations of lateral and longitudinal accelerations of the tank, and two different fill volumes using the FLUENT software. The results of the study are presented in terms of mean and peak slosh forces and moments, and variations in the mass moments of inertia of the fluid cargo within a clean bore and a baffled tank, for two different fill volumes and different magnitudes of acceleration excitations. The ratios of transient responses to the mean responses, termed as amplification factors, are further described to emphasize the significance of dynamic fluid slosh on the forces and moments induced on the vehicle. The results in general suggest that the mean responses attained from dynamic fluid slosh analyses correlate well with those attained from the quasi-static analyses for a clean bore tank. The amplification ratios of the resulting forces and moments could approach as high as 2. The results clearly show that the presence of baffles helps to suppress the peak as well as mean slosh forces and moments significantly.

Recent Research on Vibration of Structures Using Boundary Characteristic Orthogonal Polynomials in the Rayleigh-Ritz Method

Vibration analysis of arbitrary shaped structures has been of interest to structural designers for several decades. Dynamic behavior of these structures is strongly dependent on boundary conditions, geometrical shapes, material properties, different theories, and various complicating effects. Closed-form solutions are possible only for a limited set of simple boundary conditions and geometries. For analysis of arbitrary shaped structures, several numerical methods, such as finite element method, finite difference method, boundary element method, and so on, are usually applied. Although such discretization methods provide a general framework for general structures, they invariably result in problems with a large number of degrees of freedom. This deficiency is overcome by using the Rayleigh-Ritz method. Recently, a tremendous amount of work has been done by using the newly developed method of boundary characteristic orthogonal polynomials, first proposed in 1985, with the Rayleigh-Ritz method. This method provides better accuracy of results, is more efficient and simple, and is easier for computer implementation. This paper gives a survey of the research that has been done for the analysis of vibration of various structures with different effects using this method. More than a hundred papers have been reported and discussed that use this method over the past 12 years.

Identification of deregulated genes by single wall carbon-nanotubes in human normal bronchial epithelial cells

To identify genes affected by single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) in human normal lung cells, we compared the gene expression profiles of untreated human normal bronchial epithelial (HNBE) cells to profiles of HNBE cells treated with SWCNTs. A complementary DNA microarray analysis consisting of 54,675 human genes revealed marked changes in the expression of 14,294 genes, with 7,029 genes being upregulated and 7,265 being downregulated. This comprehensive list of genes included those associated with cell cycle, apoptosis, cell survival, cell adhesion and motility, signal transduction, and transcription regulation. Additional analysis of 19 genes using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction confirmed the microarray analysis. More specifically, our study demonstrates to our knowledge for the first time, evidence that 9 of the 19 genes (most of which encode cell apoptotic, signal transduction, and transcription regulator products) are upregulated in the SWCNTs-treated HNBE cells as compared with untreated cells, whereas the remaining 10 of the 19 (involved in cell adhesion and motility, cell proliferation, and cell survival) are downregulated in SWCNTs-treated HNBE cells in comparison with untreated controls. These findings provide a large body of information regarding gene expression profiles associated with SWCNTs exposure in human lung bronchial epithelial cells, and also represent a source to investigate the mechanism of the effect of SWCNTs in human normal lung cells. From the clinical editor: In this study, the gene expression profile of human normal bronchial epithelial cells was compared with single-wall carbon nanotubes-treated cells. A cDNA microarray analysis consisting of 54,675 human genes revealed significant changes in the expression of 14,294 genes, with 7,029 genes being up-regulated and 7,265 being down-regulated. This serves as a first step in clarification of mechanisms of action and to investigate toxicity in this model.

Cargo load shift and its influence on tank vehicle dynamics under braking and turning

Dynamic behaviour of a partly filled tractor-tank-semitrailer vehicle is investigated under simultaneous application of cornering and braking manoeuvres. A three-dimensional quasi-static model of a partly-filled tank of circular cross-section is developed and integrated into a comprehensive three-dimensional vehicle model to study its dynamic performance as a function of steering and braking input, and the fill volume. The liquid load movement occurring in the roll and pitch planes of the tank under combined steering and braking is derived as a function of the longitudinal and lateral accelerations, and the corresponding load shift is expressed in terms of instantaneous c.g. coordinates and mass moments of inertia of the liquid bulk, assuming negligible influence of fundamental slosh frequency and viscous effects. The response characteristics of the partly-filled tank vehicle are evaluated in terms of load shift, forces and moments induced by the cargo movement, dynamic load transfer in the lateral and longitudinal directions, directional and roll response, and braking performance of the vehicle. The dynamic response characteristics of the partly filled tank vehicle are further compared with those of an equivalent rigid cargo vehicle to demonstrate the impact of the liquid load shift under combined turning and braking manoeuvres. The results of the comparative study reveal that a partly filled tank vehicle is more susceptible to rollover during a braking-in-a-turn manoeuvre.

Synthesis and characterization of polyureasilazane derived SiCN ceramics

Samples of SiCN ceramics were synthesized by thermal treatment of commercially available CERASET™ polyureasilazane, used as liquid-polymer precursor, at pyrolysis temperatures of 1000, 1050, 1100, 1150, and 1200°C. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) signals due to sp2-hybridized carbon-related dangling bonds were recorded over the 4–300K temperature range at X band (9.6GHz), and the spectra showed the presence of an intense EPR line with g=2.0027 at room temperature for all samples; at liquid helium temperature an additional line was seen present as a shoulder to main line. These two signals are due to carbon-related dangling bonds present as (i) defects on the free-carbon phase and (ii) within the bulk of SiCN ceramic network. The value of the antiferromagnetic exchange constant between dangling bonds in the various samples, not hitherto available in the literature, was estimated from the temperature variation of the EPR linewidth to be anywhere from J=−12 to J=−15K in the samples synthesized at 1000,...

Quantitative Boundary Support Characterization for Cantilever MEMS

Microfabrication limitations are of concern especially for suspended Micro-Electro-Mechanical-Systems (MEMS) microstructures such as cantilevers. The static and dynamic qualities of such microscale devices are directly related to the invariant and variant properties of the microsystem. Among the invariant properties, microfabrication limitations can be quantified only after the fabrication of the device through testing. However, MEMS are batch fabricated in large numbers where individual testing is neither possible nor cost effective. Hence, a suitable test algorithm needs to be developed where the test results obtained for a few devices can be applied to the whole fabrication batch, and also to the foundry process in general. In this regard, this paper proposes a method to test MEMS cantilevers under variant electro-thermal influences in order to quantify the effective boundary support condition obtained for a foundry process. A non-contact optical sensing approach is employed for the dynamic testing. The Rayleigh-Ritz energy method using boundary characteristic orthogonal polynomials is employed for the modeling and theoretical analysis.

Characterization of Thick and Thin Film SiCN for Pressure Sensing at High Temperatures

Pressure measurement in high temperature environments is important in many applications to provide valuable information for performance studies. Information on pressure patterns is highly desirable for improving performance, condition monitoring and accurate prediction of the remaining life of systems that operate in extremely high temperature environments, such as gas turbine engines. A number of technologies have been recently investigated, however these technologies target specific applications and they are limited by the maximum operating temperature. Thick and thin films of SiCN can withstand high temperatures. SiCN is a polymer-derived ceramic with liquid phase polymer as its starting material. This provides the advantage that it can be molded to any shape. CERASET™ also yields itself for photolithography, with the addition of photo initiator 2, 2-Dimethoxy-2-phenyl-acetophenone (DMPA), thereby enabling photolithographical patterning of the pre-ceramic polymer using UV lithography. SiCN fabrication includes thermosetting, crosslinking and pyrolysis. The technology is still under investigation for stability and improved performance. This work presents the preparation of SiCN films to be used as the body of a sensor for pressure measurements in high temperature environments. The sensor employs the phenomenon of drag effect. The pressure sensor consists of a slender sensitive element and a thick blocking element. The dimensions and thickness of the films depend on the intended application of the sensors. Fabrication methods of SiCN ceramics both as thin (about 40–60 μm) and thick (about 2–3 mm) films for high temperature applications are discussed. In addition, the influence of thermosetting and annealing processes on mechanical properties is investigated.