ALBERT

Notes: The treatment-enhancement distinction is difficult to make, and defenders of enhancement often base their case on that. Critics of enhancement, however, often have prototypical cases of enhancement-oriented interventions in mind, and the ethics of these can be evaluated on a case by case basis. Things like intelligence enhancement may have adverse effects on equality and utility. If the equality and utility effects of such enhancements were sufficiently severe, then restrictions would be called for. We need to think more about how to make tradeoffs between liberty, equality, and utility--and we need to know more about the extent to which each of these is at stake--before reaching conclusions about the ethics of, and appropriate social policy regarding, human enhancement.

Notes: Aubrey de Grey's enthusiasm may or may not be infectious, but it is certainly palpable. And it adds a dimension to the discussion the priority that should be given to life-extension/anti-ageing research of which he seems to be unaware. For on the cusp of developments in emerging technologies we find ourselves button-holed by enthusiasts whose ``transhumanist" visions importunately press upon us the most radical understanding of their implications. My suspicion is that the transhumanist mini-insurgency is partly responsible for the general failure of the policy establishment to summon up the courage and vision to address the implications of emerging technologies at all. The insurgents' effort at ``branding" these technologies as transhumanist (like that of the Raelian flying-saucer cult, a decade ago, to claim cloning as their own) does no favors to the technology. The irony is that de Grey and his fellow-visionaries, far from generating consensus enthusiasm for emerging technology applications, are making them too hot to handle.

Notes: Liberal eugenics according to one version is distinguished from authoritarian eugenics on the basis that the choice of enhancement is devolved to parents. The argument for liberal eugenics combines a commitment to the right of parents to autonomy - in reproductive decisions and in the upbringing of children - and a parity claim that there is no morally significant difference between ante-natal and post-natal alterations of a child. The article reviews the putative constraints on parental choice, and assesses some criticisms of the parity claim. It concludes that a liberal commitment to social justice is in tension with a liberal commitment to parental choice, but judges that the former commitment does not entail the authoritarian eugenics which is represented as the alternative to liberal eugenics.

Notes: This article examines Aubrey de Grey's case for allocating substantial funding to interventive biogerontological research immediately. The conclusion is that the case is inconclusive and that scientific analyses of costs and probabilities would be needed to defend it properly.

Notes: This short comment presents arguments in support of human enhancement.What is enhancement? Surely it is a procedure that improves our functioning: any intervention which increases our general capabilities for human flourishing. We exclude from consideration those procedures often termed ``enhancements" that are of dubious overall benefit (for example breast or penis augmentation, or the taking of anabolic steroids to increase muscle mass). Equally we are not talking of ``designer" modifications which are more akin to aesthetic or fashion preferences than to improvements: hair colour, eye colour, or physique. An enhancement (as we are using the term) is something of benefit to the individual.

Notes: We report on tailoring magnetic properties and giant magneto-impedance GMI in glasscoatedmicrowires fabricated by the Taylor-Ulitovsky method, by means of selection of their alloycomposition and/or annealing conditions. Fe-rich microwires subjected to stress annealing show thehysteresis loops of inclined form due to induced transverse magnetic anisotropy, and hence becomesuitable for GMI. The transverse anisotropy depends on the annealing conditions: temperature,duration and stress. The application of external stress further drastically changes the shape of thehysteresis loops and the GMI spectra. The wires with compositions Co-Fe-Ni-Si-B and Co-Fe-Cr-Si-B are demonstrated to have a low Curie temperature (below 90oC) and pronounced temperaturedependentmagnetic properties and GMI effect. Both families of developed microwires are foreseenfor applications in high performance stress and temperature sensors as well as in tuneable sensorycomposite materials. Such composites contain short pieces of microwires embedded into adielectric matrix and contribute to the effective ac permittivity. The latter depends on the wiremagnetic properties through the GMI effect and can be tailored to produce a microwave responsesensitive to environment: magnetic field, stress and temperature

Notes: Piezoceramics are considered as key functional material in micro systems and smartstructure technology. Showing superior mechanical, dielectric, pyroelectric, ferroelectric andpiezoelectric properties they introduce improved functionality, e.g. sensing, actuation, energyharvesting, health monitoring or shape control. Various applications such as micro integratedvalves, drives, voltage converter, piezoelectric, pyroelectric and ultrasound sensors are expected.Another field of application concerns active structures in space, automotive or machine buildingindustry. Progress was achieved by combining flexible board and piezo technology which opens upa new class of reliable ready to use actuator and sensor modules. Tailored design and packaging areseen as key factors for progress in custom applications. Load carrying structures with embeddedactuators, sensors and electronics, which are usually pre-integrated in modules, offer theopportunity for noise reduction, vibration and shape control and health monitoring. The presentpaper summarizes the potential of advanced, microsystems compatible piezotechnology for activestructures and systems. The focus will be given to PZT film and fibre processing and the integrationin silicon wafer, ceramic multilayer and polymer matrix architectures. Finally, forward-lookingapplications are highlighted

Notes: A simple yet accurate macroscopic constitutive model of shape memory alloys has beendeveloped. The features of this model are (1) energy-based phase transformation criterion, (2)one-dimensional phase transformation rule based on a micromechanical viewpoint, (3) dissipatedenergy with a form of a sum of two exponential functions, (4) duplication of the strain rate effect, and(5) adaptability to multi-phase transformation. This model is further improved to be able to expressstress-strain relationships such that the reverse transformation starts at a higher stress than themartensitic transformation starts. Here, the ideal reversible transformation temperature is empiricallydescribed by a function of the martensite volume fraction. In this paper, an outline of our model isgiven, where the improvement is introduced. Then, it is shown that the model can quantitativelyduplicate the major and minor hysteresis loops, strain rate effect, and asymmetry in tension andcompression on the stress-strain relationship. And that it can also duplicate the stress-strainrelationships having the reverse transformation start stress higher than the forward one

Notes: The complex, non-linear, irreversible, hysteretic behaviour of polycrystallineferroelectric materials is the result of domain wall motion and correlates with the phase compositionof the ceramic. This paper reports on our investigation of the ferroelectric polarization of PZTceramics in dependence of temperature in the range between -175 and 150°C. We compare fivecommercial piezoelectric materials used in actuator applications. The obtained data, derivedcorrelations, and material functions are very helpful for understanding the material properties inpractical applications and give input values for temperature depended numerical hysteretic models[1]

Notes: This paper describes a novel method of self-sensing Ion-conductive Polymer MetalComposite (IPMC) actuator. Unlike the previous self-sensing technique, the proposed principle isbased on the electric charge of the IPMC itself, which is correlated with its curvature. At the normalstate, IPMC is electrically charged, and the amount varies according to the status of IPMC. While itis operated as an actuator, it also gives position information in the form of the electric chargeamount, which is utilized for fast and accurate position control. In order to get the bending status ofthe actuator, the instantaneous voltage of IPMC is measured during the open state for input signal.The uncomplicated system is constructed to verify if the developed method is effective for the selfsensingactuator and evaluated by the experimental basis. The way to actuate the IPMC with selfsensingis a supplying discrete signal as an input, and it is also evaluated experimentally. Thisresearch also represents relatively simple structure for both actuation and sensing, which is veryimportant factor to be implemented as a controller circuit for various applications

Notes: A hardware-software interface for smart electroactive pressure sensors has been designedwith the objective of providing a low power consumption and high performance impact monitoringsystem, integrated in new smart structures. The interface is specifically designed for its use withdistributed pressure sensors based on conductive polymers. Their low cost and flexibility makethem suitable for placing on large surfaces. The smart sensor integrates a microprocessor, a radiochip and a complete analog front end based on a period-modulated oscillator. The softwaredeveloped implements new interface applications for this hardware in TinyOS. The response of thesensor, both loading and unloading, to different impact energies first, and then to different probestiffness is presented. The behaviour of the sensor to impact is also compared to the response instatic, and the different factors affecting the sensor response in both conditions are described.Comparing and contrasting the sensor signal with that of an impact pendulum shows that the sensoris suitable for measuring impact in both flexible and rigid structures

Notes: The mechanics of cables is caught either by numeric or analytic models which are able topredict the nonlinear dynamic response of this structural elements with the desired level ofapproximation. Although cable dynamics has been widely explored in the literature, efforts are stillrequired in the field of cable vibration mitigation to conceive an economical, feasible and robustcontrol strategy. An adaptive control strategy combining a distributed passive solution with a semiactiveactuation is here proposed for the purpose of reducing the spatial cable vibrations. Theeffectiveness of the proposed control policy is investigated by means of experimental tests and asuitable numeric scheme

Notes: Carbon Nanofibers (CNF) layers were synthesized nickel-based thin-films on flat fused silicasubstrates. CNF synthesis was performed via thermal catalytic chemical vapor deposition ofethylene using nickel as metal catalyst. Different underlayer metal thin films, viz. titanium, tantalumand titanium-tungsten were tested in order to obtain stable and well-attached CNF films on fusedsilica substrates. It is found in case of titanium CNFs are formed on the nickel, but due to severeNi/Ti inderdiffusion the titanium film looses its adhesive function, as a consequence of which theformed CNF film detaches from the substrate. The use of tantalum or titanium-tungsten as adhesionlayer resulted in stable and well-adhered CNF films on fused silica substrates, of which themorphology can be controlled by the growth time

Notes: Blends of poly(trimethylene terephthalate) (PTT) and poly(buthylene terephthalate)(PBT) in the amorphous state were miscible in all of the blend compositioins studied, as evidencedby a single, composition-dependent glass-transition temperature observed for each blendcomposition. The variation in the glass-transition temperature was well-predicted by the Gordon-Taylor equation, with the fitting parameter being 1.37. The cold-crystallization (peak) temperatureincreased with increasing PBT content in the blends. The subsequent melting endotherms after meltcrystallization exhibited melting point depression behavior in which the observed meltingtemperatures decreased with an increasing amount of minor component of the blends. LHW andNLHW were used to determine the equilibrium melting temperature of the blends. The values ofthe overall crystallization rate parameters for these blends were all found to increase withdecreasing crystallization temperature, suggesting that these blends crystallized at low temperaturesfaster than that at high temperatures. As the content of PBT was further increased, these valuesdramatically decreased. This result is similar to that observed in the growth rate. From LHsecondary nucleation theory, PTT ,PBT and their blends showed the transition temperaturesbetween regime III and II about 194oC. Banded spherulites were observed for PTT/PBT blends.The spacing of bands of PTT increases with increasing Tc. The body of spherulite texture is moreopen with increasing PBT content. In addition, the boundary of spherulite is also changed withcomposition

Notes: Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) can be metallic or semiconductors depending simply ongeometric characteristics. This peculiar electronic behavior, combined with high mechanicalstrength, make them potential building blocks of a new nano-electronic technology. High resolutionimages of CNTs often disclose structural deformations such as bent, twisted, or collapsed tubes.These deformations break the tube symmetry, and a change in their electronic properties shouldresult. A computationally effective mixed finite element-tight-binding approach able to simulate theelectromechanical behavior of single and multiwall nanotubes used in nano-electronic devices ispresented. The finite element (FE) computes the evolution of atomic coordinates with deformationand provides these coordinates to a tight-binding (TB) code, enabling computation and updating ofthe electrical conductivity. The TB code is engineered to realize dramatic computational savings incalculating deformation-induced changes in electrical transport properties of the nanotubes

Notes: Silicon Carbide (SiC) is a very promising material for the fabrication of a new category of sensorsand devices, to be used in very hostile environments (high temperature, corrosive ambient, presenceof radiation, etc.). The fabrication of SiC MEMS-based sensors requires new processes able torealize microstructures on bulk material or on the SiC surface. The hetero-epitaxial growth of 3CSiCon silicon substrates allows one to overcome the traditional limitations of SiC microfabrication.This approach puts together the standard silicon bulk microfabrication methodologieswith the robust mechanical properties of 3C-SiC. Using this approach we were able to fabricate SiCcantilevers for a new class of pressure sensor. The geometries studied were selected in order tostudy the internal residual stress of the SiC film. X-Ray Diffraction polar figure and Bragg-Brentano scan analysis were used to check to crystal structure and the orientations of the film. SEManalysis was performed to analyze the morphology of the released MEMS structures

Notes: In this work, we describe the use of porous Si as a base material for the production ofporous metal layers by a galvanic displacement reaction. We have applied this process for theproduction of porous Pt, Au, Ru and Pd layers. By adding HF to the reaction bath, we achieve avirtually complete displacement of Si by the metal. We have worked with porous Si samples ofdifferent morphologies, obtained on differently doped Si substrates, and studied the influence of thechemical nature of the metal precursor on the morphology of the porous metal layer produced. Thesamples were studied by SEM with EDS, BET analysis, and voltammetry. Porous metal layerscomprising random agglomerates of spherical particles with diameters between 50 and 100 nm areusually obtained, while the original porous Si samples show arrays of straight pores. With Au,using its ethylenediamine complex, the original straight pore morphology could be preserved

Notes: The rapidly changing defense landscape and the exponential increase in complexchallenges and threats faced by our warfighters demand revolutionary advances across thespectrum and even a rethinking of current combat doctrine. Sensors and Electron devices arecritical elements in a number of application form providing situational awareness to battlefieldoperations. Enabling nano and micro system approaches offer the potential to fulfill Army needsin applications such as chemical and biological sensors, high-frequency and low-powerelectronics, micro autonomous systems, micro power generation, specialized optical sources anddetectors and much more. A large part of the advances thus far originate in insights andunderstanding of the underlying materials. I will review some emerging needs with recentillustrative examples from the field and will follow up with potential solutions that are beingdeveloped within ARL and our Army partners. These include RF MEMS for electronicallyscanned antennas, carbon nanotube and other nanostructure based chemical/biological sensors,biomimetic approaches to materials development for power storage applications andnanostructured semiconductors for integrated electronics and energetics.A major advance in information gathering in the recent past is the use of persistent sensing,namely the ability to monitor relevant battle space without interruption. To quote from theQuadrennial Defense Review Report: [1] “The ability of the future force to establish an“unblinking eye” over the battle-space through persistent surveillance will be key to conductingeffective joint operations”. The goals of this new approach are to increase awareness of thebattle space and to integrate real-time information with intelligence to provide an operationaladvantage. Even if the information is not timely enough to prevent an adversarial action, it canbe critical in forensics. In the longer term, the intelligence contribution can be substantial.Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) networks can deliver high-qualityinformation to the Soldier by exploiting all available sensor sources and adaptable networks.This concept is being developed to optimize utility across multiple dynamic missions, to processdata and deliver information driven by mission need within network constraints (e.g. power andbandwidth), and to support the human user by minimizing data deluge. To support this concept,research at the Army Research Laboratory’s Sensor and Electron Devices Directorate (ARL –SEDD) is being conducted in various areas to develop the fundamental underpinnings of multimodaland multi-sensor fusion, scalable decentralized/distributed processing, autonomoussensor-network management and metadata representation. This includes the understanding of

Notes: This paper reports on the design of piezoresistive GaAs sensors and focuses on nonconventional orientations. The piezoresistive detection of in-plane longitudinal and shear stresses isstudied to determine the best orientations for pressure and force sensors. Simulation of shapes formicromachined membranes and cantilevers allows us to select some (hk0) orientations for whichthe sensitivity is evaluated

Notes: Single crystal silicon diaphragms are widely used as pressure sensitive elements inmicromachined pressure sensors. When designing such a sensor it is usual to assume that the silicon isan isotropic material and the average elastic constants are used. However, the mechanical propertiesof single crystal silicon are orthotropic, and this has an important effect on the mechanical behaviourof silicon diaphragms under pressure. In this work, the deflections of orthotropic silicon circulardiaphragms which are orientated against the (100) and the (110) planes are presented. It is found thatby assuming silicon is isotropic material, the maximum stress is underestimated by 9.4% for (110)orientated silicon diaphragms, while the maximum stress is underestimated by 8% for (100)orientated silicon diaphragms. Therefore, when a silicon diaphragm is used in a MEMS sensor, theorthotropic properties should be taken into account for accuracy. Finally, the performance of acapacitive sensor is predicted by using finite element method

Notes: This research addresses the fabrication of crack-free 40-nm thin film YBa2Cu3O7 (YBCO) pixelstructures based on high temperature superconductor (HTSC) microbolometers for highly sensitivethermal detectors that can be miniaturized for affordable passive millimeter-wave (MMW) imaging.A completely dry etch process is described for suspended transition edge bolometers by removing(releasing) the silicon substrate underneath a 3 micrometer wide pixel using gaseous plasmasulfurhexafluoride (SF6) chemical reaction. This is an improvement over conventional selective wetchemical etching techniques that are both harsh on the YBCO and require additional complexalignment steps to the substrate material leading to very poor device yields and performance. Issuesrelating to material roughness, etch redeposition, and silicon undercutting will be analyzed andmethodologies to overcome/minimize such problems will be explained in detail

Notes: The asymptotic method is used to solve the three-dimensional dynamic problem of theelasticity theory on forced vibrations of multi-layered orthotropic plate under full contact conditionsbetween the layers. The analysis of the obtained mathematically exact solutions is conducted and theusage of seismoisolators is proved.For a three-layered packet (foundation-seismoisolator-base) it is shown that in case the layers arerigid enough, the displacements imparted to the lower layer are basically transmitted to the upperlayers, and when the middle layer is considerably soft, the amplitudes of the upper layer vibrationsare essentially diminishing. The results prove the necessity of using seismic isolators, particularly inthe construction of especially responsible buildings, such as schools, hospitals etc., with the aim ofdecreasing negative influence of earthquakes.The simple algorithm is built in order to calculate the amplitudes of forced vibrations in case ofany quantity and configurations of layers. The behavior of the multi-layered packets under variouslayers configurations is graphically illustrated

Notes: This study validates an adaptive control algorithm capable of compensating for onlinesensor failure. Online failure is a relevant problem when considering actively damped, multi-storysmart buildings experiencing a disturbance event. In recent years, Artificial Neural Networks(ANNs) have proven very efficient in pattern classification and control applications. In this study,the unique application of ANNs involving Radial Basis Functions (RBFs) combined with H∞optimal control has demonstrated three significant characteristic advantages: (1) real timeadaptability, (2) optimal convergence and computation time, and (3) most importantly, no offlinetraining. The novelty of the proposed controller is elucidated by performing disturbance rejectiontests involving a scaled two degree of freedom shear frame subjected to a combined H∞ and ANNcontrol. A bench scale structural model is instrumented with piezoelectric sensors and actuators.After the onset of a first mode disturbance, the structural frame is subjected to a complete sensorfailure. The proposed controller is shown to enhance the performance of a baseline H∞ controllerin the presence of sensor failure

Notes: Nanoparticles (NPs) of biodegradable polymers as a drug delivery system formulate drugdevoid of harmful adjuvant, realize controlled drug release and achieve better therapeutic efficacy thanpristine agent. However, the low selectivity of NPs towards cancer cells hinders the advantages of NPformulation for efficient chemotherapy. The novel system of paclitaxel-loaded, trastuzumab-decoratedpoly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide)/montmorillonite(PLGA/MMT) NPs for targeted drug delivery wasdeveloped. Paclitaxel was used as a prototype drug with excellent therapeutic effects against a widespectrum of cancers. Trastuzumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody directed against the humanepidermal growth factor receptor-2(HER2), which overexpresses in 25-30% breast cancers. Moreover,synergistic effects have been found in combination of trastuzumab with paclitaxel. As a potentdetoxifier, the medical clay MMT can adsorb toxins and reduce side effects. The drug delivery systemrepresents a new concept in developing drug delivery systems and can achieve functions such as toformulate anticancer drugs with no harmful adjuvant; to reduce side effects caused by formulated drugs;to have synergistic therapeutic effects; and to achieve targeted chemotherapy for HER2-positive breastcancer

Notes: Injected, nano-scale drug delivery systems, or nanovectors, are ideal candidates toprovide breakthrough solutions to the time-honored problem of optimizing therapeutic index for atreatment. Even modest amounts of progress towards this goal have historically engenderedsubstantial benefits across multiple fields of medicine, with the translability, for example, fromoncology to infectious diseases being granted by the fact that the progresses had a single commondenominator in the underlying technological platform. In this work we combine multiscalemolecular modeling and experimental approaches to define the mode and the molecularrequirements of the interaction of oligonucleotide-based therapeutics (e.g., small interfering(si)RNA) and dendrimeric delivery reagents. In details, by mimicking in silico the experimentsperformed in vitro, information at the molecular level (e.g., interaction forces, mechanisms,structures, free energies of binding, self-assembly, etc.), which cannot be accessed by otherexperimental techniques, are obtained. Thus, critical molecular parameters for optimizing and denovo designing nanocargos for tissues and tumor specific uptake can be determined. This wouldprovide valuable information to devise optimal delivery modalities that would increase the efficacyof siRNA therapeutics in cells and laboratory animals and move them toward clinical applications

Notes: Organic and polymer based electronic devices are currently the subject of a great deal of scientificinvestigation and development. This interest can be attributed to the low cost, easy processing stepsand simple device structures of organic electronics when compared to conventional silicon andinorganic electronics. In the field of organic electronic memories, non-volatile, rewritable polymermemory devices (PMDs) have shown promise as a future technology where cost and compatibilitywith flexible substrates are important factors. In this paper PMDs based on active layers containingan admixture of polystyrene, gold nanoparticles and 8-hydroxyquinoline will be presented, showingthe devices’ electrical characteristics and memory performance attributes, and where possiblediscussing possible mechanisms of operation

Notes: There is a current upsurge in research on devices with nanoparticles embedded indielectrics. Such structures can operate as memories with high speed, high density, low voltage andlow cost. Here, we report on hybrid gold nanoparticle-based metal-insulator-semiconductor (MIS)memory devices combining silicon technology and organic thin film deposition. The nanoparticlesare deposited using a self-assembly technique at room temperature onto a 4.5 nm thermal siliconoxide layer. A 40 nm thin film of pentacene (deposited by flash thermal evaporation),polymethylmethacrylate (spin coated) and cadmium arachidate (deposited using the Langmuir-Blodgett technique) are used as insulators. Distinct capacitance-voltage (C-V) hysteresis is observedwith a memory window that increases linearly with increasing voltage programming range.Clockwise and anticlockwise hysteresis in devices based on p-type and n-type silicon, respectivelyare observed, indicating that charges are injected from the top electrode to the nanoparticles ratherthan tunnelling through the thin SiO2 layer. However, thermal growth of SiO2 at a temperaturebelow 800 °C resulted in a hysteresis in the opposite direction. The detailed electrical behaviour ofthe MIS devices will be discussed

Notes: We have studied the effect of various electrodes on non-volatile polymer memory devices.The ITO/PEDOT:PSS/Top electrode (TE) devices had bipolar switching behavior. The OFF currentlevel of devices increased from 3×10-4 A to 3×10-3 A and the ON voltage decreased from 0.8 V to 0.5V as the TE work function increased. The yield of devices decreased from over 50 % to under 10 % asthe TE work function of devices increased. This result occurred because carrier injection was affectedby the TE work function

Notes: Intensive research is currently underway to exploit the highly interestingproperties of nano-sized particles and organic molecules for optical, electronic and otherapplications. Recently, it has been shown that nano-sized particles and small organic moleculesembedded in polymer matrices can be used to realise memory devices. Such memory devices aresimple to fabricate via the spin-on technique. This work presents an attempt to use sea salt,embedded in polyvinyl acetate, in the making of the memory devices. A polymer blend of polyvinylacetate and sodium chloride (NaCl) was prepared in methanol and spin coated onto a glass substratemarked with thin Al tracks and a top contact was evaporated onto the blend after drying - thisresulted in a metal-organic-metal (MOM) structure. The current-voltage (I-V) behaviour of MOMdevices shows that the devices can be switched from a high conductivity state to a low conductivitystate, by applying an external electric field - this property can be exploited to store data bits. Thepossible charging mechanism, based on the electric dipole formation, is presented in this work.Polymer blends of polyvinyl acetate with nano-particles of BaTiO3 are also investigated to furtherour understanding of charging mechanism(s)

Notes: Nd0.3Sm0.7NiO3 ceramic has been synthesised using a sol-gel method and annealing at oxygenpressure. Nd0.3Sm0.7NiO3 exhibits a reversible metal insulator phase transition which is, in theinfrared range, responsible of a thermal-optical contrast. Samples are structurally characterized byX-ray diffraction and thermogravimetric analysis. The Nd0.3Sm0.7NiO3 thermal – optical contrast ischaracterized in the mid-infrared range, using reflectance and thermal-optical measurements

Notes: The peculiar property of reversible change of the refractive index (Δn) of photochromic systems, issuitably exploited to realize volume phase holographic gratings (VPHGs), which are findingapplications in optics and in spectroscopic instrumentations. A large modulation of the refractiveindex between the two photochromic states and a relatively thick layer of good optical quality arethe fundamental requirements for the materials to achieve a good diffraction efficiency.A backbone diarylethene polymer which combines good processing properties with a properphotochromic sensitivity is synthesised and studied. The large Δn between the two isomer states(i.e. Δn=0.03 measured at 1500 nm and the value is even higher at shorter wavelengths,approaching 0.1 near the visible) and the high transparency in the near infrared range make it apromising substrate for the realization of efficient VPHGs. First prototype of VPHGs based onphotochromic diarylethene polymer films has been written by transferring the pattern of lines froma master and its functionality is shown

Notes: In this study, the dipole switching and non-volatile memory functionality ofpoly(vinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene) (PVDF/TrFE)(72/28 mol%) random copolymer ultrathinfilms were analyzed. PVDF/TrFE(72/28) used as ferroelectric insulator in varying memory devicearchitectures such as metal-ferroelectric polymer-metal (MFM), MF-insulator-semiconductor(MFIS), MIS and ferroelectric field-effect transistors (FeFET) were examined using differentelectrical measurements. A maximum data writing speed of 1.69 MHz was calculated from theswitching time measured using MFM architecture. Compared to MFM, MFIS device architecture wasfound to be more suitable for distinguishing the ‘0’ and ‘1’ state using the capacitance-voltagemeasurement. With FeFET, the measured drain current (Id) as well as its memory window increasedwith decreasing channel length, thereby enabling the easier identification of ‘0’ and ‘1’ statecomparable to the MFIS case. The data obtained from this study will be useful in the fabrication ofnon-volatile random access memory (NVRAM) devices operating at lower voltage with faster dataR/W/E speed and memory retention capability

Notes: In the present paper, active vibration control of cylindrical shell structure is conductedbased on optimized actuator placement. Anisotropic piezoelectric actuator named as Macro FiberComposite (MFC) is adopted for vibration control. The governing equations of motions of thecylindrical shell structure including MFC actuators are derived from Lagrange’s equation. For theverification of the proposed analytic model, numerical results of modal analysis are compared withthose of experimental test results. Optimal placements of the MFC actuators are determined withGenetic Algorithm for the effective control performance. Robust controller is then designed tosuppress structural vibration of the proposed smart structure and control performances are evaluated

Notes: Recently, the semi-active control method has attracted significant attention from manyresearchers and engineers. This method aims to minimize a structure's response by changing thedamper capacity according to the state of the structure and the external loads, and various kinds ofsemi-active control algorithms have been proposed. A lot of them utilize mathematically difficultalgorithms that require complicated computer systems. With these methods, we can not evaluate theeffectiveness and overall safety of the system under various kinds of loads. One reason is that thebehaviors of structures incorporating such complicated control systems can not be evaluated byconventional means such as equivalent viscous damping factor based on hysteresis. Therefore, asemi-active control system is wished in which the control effects can be easily quantified as withpassive control systems. This paper describes the result of having proposed the simple quantificationapproach for the semi-active control effectiveness

Notes: Increasing heights of tall buildings often require supplementary damping system foroccupant comfort in windy condition. This paper presents a liquid column vibration absorber(LCVA) installed in a 64-story building, which is the highest residential building with flat platestructural system in Korea, for mitigation of wind-induced motion. LCVA is a special type ofsecondary mass-type dampers relying on the motion of a column of liquid in a U-shaped container tocounteract the forces acting on the structure. Since it has different dimensions for vertical andhorizontal portions of container, it has benefits of easy tuning and wide natural frequency range. Toevaluate the control performance of LCVA, an experiment using 1/20 scaled model is performed. Thetest structure is excited using a sinusoidal signal ranging 0.1 ~ 3.0Hz with 5.5mm displacement, andacceleration and displacement of the structure, water height, and shear force are measured.Experiment results indicate that the LCVA increase the energy dissipation capacity of the buildingsignificantly

Notes: Pine tree (Pinus silvestris) with shaped sample dimensions of 20 x 20 x 5mm (axial)was selected as raw material. Samples were dried and, for half of samples, resin extraction fromsample was applied. SiO2 sol was prepared using sol-gel technology. Ethanol, tetraetoxysilane,distilled water and hydrochloric acid was used as sol raw materials. Samples were impregnatedunder different vacuum and pressure conditions. Impregnation efficiency and gel take up volume, aswell as SiO2 distribution in the samples, were studied. Impregnated samples were pyrolysed at 500oC under oxygen-free atmosphere. Fourier transformation infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) andscanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectrometry (SEM-EDS) was used forsample investigations

Notes: An artificial nose or tongue could be a real benefit at times: this kind of biosensor couldsniff or taste out poisons, explosives or drugs, for instance. The senses of living organisms functionusing various mechanisms, among other things utilizing membrane proteins as receptors. Membraneproteins have several important functions in the cell, one of which is to act as receptors, passing onsignals from molecules in the air or liquid, for example, to the cell interior.This article is focusing on the functional coupling of biological signal processing and recognitionelements with micro- and nanoelectronic semiconductor devices and circuits for the development offuture biosensors and molecular diagnostics tools

Notes: In this work the design and realization of an artificial vestibular system demonstrator ispresented. The whole system is biologically inspired to the human vestibular apparatus. The mototransductioncapabilities of ionomeric polymer-metal composite (IPMC) have been used in order todevelop the prototype [1]. The reported results are the starting point to the future design anddevelopment of a miniaturized artificial vestibular system, integrating biocompatible materials andall-organic electronic devices [2]

Notes: Echolocating bats are known to outperform manmade systems in the tasks of autonomousnavigation and object detection and classification, especially when size, power and computationalcomplexity requirements are considered. As a result, the individual physical mechanisms andprocesses involved in echolocation (types of signals used, properties of the emission mechanism,echoes created in different echolocation tasks, receptor characteristics as well as the bat’s auditorysystem) have received significant attention as a possible source of bio-inspiration. However, notmuch attention has been drawn to optimisations that may arise as a combined effect of the abovemechanisms. Of key importance in such an investigation would be the knowledge of the binauralsignals generated in real echolocation tasks as those are the actual input signals utilised by the bat’sauditory system. The direct measurement of these signals is severely restricted by the very smallsize of most bat species. We describe the development of an experimental facility that combines themeasurement and modelling of the aforementioned subsystems for the determination of the binauralsignals associated with echolocation. We present initial measurement results and compare themwith analytical modelling predictions

Notes: The reversible charge ordering transition of (Sm1-x,Cax)MnO3 is associated with strong changes inelectrical, magnetic and infrared properties. In this work, normal spectral emissivity is calculatedfrom infrared reflectance of bulk polished ceramics, measured by Fourier Transform InfraredSpectroscopy (FTIR). Emissivity versus temperature shows a sharp transition at the charge orderingtransition. By comparing the apparent temperature of the sample with the absolute temperature, weshow that (Sm1-x,Cax)MnO3 is a good candidate for infrared furtivity around room temperature

Notes: This paper describes the elaboration and optical characterizations of electrochromicdevices (ECDs) based on a semi-Interpenetrating Polymer Network architecture. These ECDexhibit contrast ration of 36% in the full visible range and are able to switch 10,000 times atlow voltage between +1.2V and -1.2V with only 0.2% of electroactivity lost. By the way,these IPN-based materials present interesting properties in the NIR region

Notes: Nickel oxide-based thin films were deposited onto indium-tin oxide (ITO) coated glasssubstrates by the chemical bath method. The synthesis, based on the decomposition of urea in anaqueous nickel nitrate solution, promotes the deposition of the turbostratic [removed info]-Ni(OH)2 phase. Theelectrochromic behavior of films obtained from low and high urea concentrations was tested afterair annealing at temperatures of 250 and 300 °C. Using cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometryand in-situ single wavelength transmittance it is shown that the films exhibit good reversibility andcoloration efficiency. Transmittance spectra in the visible range show the high optical contrast ofthe films. It was found that in films annealed at 250 °C the bleached-colored switching is betweenthe Ni(OH)2 and [removed info]-NiOOH phases. Films annealed at 300 °C are comprised by a Ni(OH)2-NiOmixture and Ni2O3 units or the [removed info]-NiOOH phase are responsible for coloring depending on ureaconcentration in solution. The [removed info]-NiOOH phase was clearly identified in over-colored films. X-raydiffraction, Raman scattering, and infrared reflectance were used for phase identification

Notes: In the last years there has been an increasing interest to magnetorheological (MR)dampers and their applications to civil engineering. In particular they have been used as semi-activecontrol devices for vibration mitigation due to external dynamic loads. These devices are highlynonlinear and thus accurate models of these devices are important for effective simulation andcontrol system design. Two hysteretic models based on the normalized Bouc-Wen model areproposed in this paper to compare their effectiveness in a large scale MR fluid damper. Amethodology for identification is proposed, and the obtained models are tested and validatedexperimentally

Notes: Fluorescent dyes with a high sensitivity of their optical spectra towards changes of theenvironment were prepared via aldol condensation or Horner olefinations. The main chromophoreis a quadrupolar N-substituted 1,4-distyrylbenzene which allows protonation and complexation atvarious positions resulting in a series of different and significant changes of the optical spectra. Thesensitivity of the absorption and emission spectra on solvent polarity, acid, and cations is reported

Notes: We have synthesized two types of all-organic radical liquid crystalline (LC) compounds,trans-2-alkoxyphenyl-5-[4-(4-alkoxybenzenecarbonyloxy)phenyl]-2,5-dimethylpyrrolidine-1-oxy(1) and 4-alkoxyphenyl trans-4-[5-(4-alkoxyphenyl)-2,5-dimethylpyrrolidine-1-oxy-2-yl]benzoate(2) and have fully characterized their LC properties. Although the only difference in the molecularstructure between 1 and 2 is the orientation of a binding group connecting the core portion and oneside-chain (-OCO- and -COO- for 1 and 2), the racemic or enantiomerically enriched 2 showed anSmA phase, or SmA* and TGBA* phases, which were not observed for 1, besides N and SmC, or N*and SmC* phases, respectively. Here we discuss the origin of these differences on the basis of theircrystal structures determined by X-ray crystallographic analysis

Notes: We report experimental results obtained in our laboratories in the development of Er3+-doped glass microspherical cavities for the fabrication of compact and low threshold laser sourcesat 1.55 μm. We investigate three different approaches in order to fabricate the microspheresincluding direct melting of Er3+-doped glass powders, coating of silica microspheres with an Er3+-doped sol-gel layer, and synthesis of Er3+-doped monolithic microspheres using the sol-gel route inacid catalysis. Details of the different fabrication processes are presented together with thephotoluminescence characterization in free space configuration of the microspheres and of the glassprecursor. We analyse the photoluminescence spectra of the whispering gallery modes of themicrospheres exited using evanescent coupling and we demonstrate laser action in a wide range ofwavelengths around 1.55 μm

Notes: Two series of xHfO2 - (100-x) SiO2 (x=10, 20, 30 mol%) glass-ceramics planar waveguides dopedwith 0.3 mol% Er3+ ions were prepared by the sol-gel route. A thermal treatment at 1000°C wasapplied to the second series of samples to nucleate HfO2 crystals. The waveguides were analyzed byX-ray photoelectron spectroscopy to study the effect of the Hf concentration and of the annealing onthe material structure. XPS shows that in the first series of samples a Hf concentration thresholdexists. Above this threshold the material undergoes a spinodal decomposition with formation of HfO2rich domains. In the second series of samples the presence of thermal treatment lowers theconcentration threshold so that the phase separation occurs also at a Hf concentration of 10%mol. Inthe waveguides where spinodal decomposition in present, the emission spectra from the Er3+ ionsreveal a sensible narrowing of the 4I13/2 → 4I15/2 line. This demonstrates the presence of a crystallineenvironment for the Er3+ ions since the inhomogeneous broadening due to the disordered glassynetwork is suppressed. These results may have important implications for the fabrication of photonicdevices with increased efficiency

Notes: We report the effect of solvent on the rhodamine 6G encapsuled into channels ofmesoporous silica, synthesized by two-step process that gives intermediary stable hybrid micelles.Mesoporous materials have been obtained by the method that involves surfactant micelles (mainlycationic) and inorganic precursor of the structure to be obtained. MSU-X type mesoporous silicahas been synthesized with polyethylene oxide surfactant as the directing-structure agent andtetraethyl orthosilicate Si(OEt)4 as the silica source. The influence of the solvent on theencapsulation of rhodamine dye was systematically explored, specially its influence on theluminescence properties. Rhodamine 6G encapsuled into mesoporous silica channel wascharacterized by UV-Vis and luminescence spectroscopies, scanning electron microscopy, smallangle x ray scattering and N2 sorption-desorption. The pore size and the solvent effects intoluminescence dye encapsuled into mesoporous silica channels are observed in the visible absorptionand emission spectra of rhodamine 6G. The intense photoluminescence band of rhodamine 6G dyeis in 500 to 600 nm region. The observed shift of the absorption and emission bands can be assignedto the effect of the solvents dielectric constant and pore size of mesoporous silica

Notes: Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are of great technical interest because of their high strength(~37 GPa), good electrical conductivity, excellent thermal conductivity (3 000 W m-1K-1), and goodthermal stability at both low and high temperatures. A difficulty has been absence of reliablemethods of controlling assembly of the large numbers of CNTs required for practical applications.We have developed, in collaboration with our partners at the NanoTech Institute, University ofTexas at Dallas, a solid-state process for spinning CNTs into yarns without the use of binders thatusually degrade the electrical and thermal conductivities. The singles yarns were twisted together togive coarser (multi-stranded) stronger yarns that were knitted using a miniature 5-needle machine.Mechanical and electrical properties of the yarns and knitted tubes were assessed simultaneouslyusing specially developed test equipment. Some specific applications under investigation includeusing the CNT yarns as incandescent and x-ray filaments, as electrodes for biomedical applications,and as composites with high toughness. Tests show the biocompatibility of the CNT yarns forselected cell lines is high

Notes: This paper presents an illustrated discussion of the potential for creative design applications ofthermochromic textiles brought into contact with specifically designed heat-profiling circuitry. Theresults are derived from a current research programme at the design/technology interface on theapplication of colour change technology in interior textile design. Examples are given of textilesamples combining printed thermochromics with circuitry to demonstrate the aesthetic qualities thatcan be achieved from integration of the technologies in a flexible fabric system. Dynamic colourchange effects controlled by prototype circuitry and power electronics are demonstrated. The paperconcludes with an analysis of the potential for product/artefact development in the area of “smart”design and how, as a consequence, a responsive interior might be envisaged

Notes: This paper reports a novel method of developing SMART nanocomposite membranesand coatings by in situ synthesis of iron oxide particles in a Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)matrix, usingco-precipitation of different amounts of Fe(II) and Fe(III) taken in an alkaline medium. Poly(vinylalcohol) was used to encapsulate iron oxide nanoparticles, as scaffold for particle nucleation and itsinfluence on particle size and on magnetic properties were studied. The ferrogels were prepared bya freeze/thawing process of the solutions containing magnetite nanoparticles. Magnetite particleswith an average diameter of 20-40 nm were obtained homogeneously within the matrix because ofthe tridimensional structure and chelating capacities of PVA. Calcium-alginate PVA gel was used toencapsulate the iron oxide/PVA nanocomposite. The mechanical properties and the saturationmagnetization of the system were measured. The combination of magnetic properties of ironnanoparticles with the biocompatibility of calcium-alginate suggests that these materials have greatpotential for use as controlled delivery systems activated externally by magnetic stimuli

Notes: This paper describes the culmination of two separate programmes of work undertaken atthe Offshore Technology Centre at Cranfield University. The problems of underwater vision indark turbid water have been of interest to us over a number of years and a technique employinglaser illumination has been developed to partially overcome them. The system incorporates a solidstate frequency doubled cw diode pumped Nd:YAG laser emitting light at 532nm as a source ofillumination. Using an oscillating mirror to form a stripe of illumination on the target, imageprocessing techniques have been used on standard CCTV outputs to reduce backscattered light thusimproving image quality and range of vision. Also, an Autonomous Underwater Vehicle(Hammerhead) has been developed for the purpose of investigating control and guidance strategies.This paper describes the implementation of the above-mentioned viewing system onto the vehicleand how data extracted from the sensor has been used in the control and guidance of the AUV. Inaddition, the use of image tracking software, that can be trained to recognise an object, has enabledthe AUV to detect and follow a predetermined target, such as an underwater pipeline or subseatelecommunications cable – a truly bio-inspired operational technique

Notes: To study the phenomenon of fluid-net-structure interaction of a trawl the authors investigatedeffects of hydro-elasticity of stiff net panels (grids) by means of special experiments in a windtunnel. The analyses were especially focused on how the grids affect the current.One of the targets was to observe the correlation between the actual distribution of velocity distantand close to the grid and the respective hydrodynamic load distribution namely under considerationof prevailing geometrical and kinematical parameters. Another aim of the tests was to get an idea ofthe fluid-dynamic interactions between neighbouring mesh bars which is implicitly expressed in thewell known nomographic diagram by Koritzky (1973).And last but not least the third target was to analyse the impact of the grid on the fluid parameters incorrelation with further investigations regarding the understanding of the phenomenon of selectivityof fishing gears.In context of these objectives the hydrodynamic loads as well as the current distributions close toand far from the grid surface were measured by a six-component balance, by hot-wire anemometersas well as by a 2d-PIV-system. The tests were focused on small angles of attack. To control themotion of fluid two end plates and a base plate were used. The consequences of a fluid blockage atthe end of a grid were analysed. Results are presented and discussed

Notes: This paper describes the utility of a suite of oscillating fins designed to optimize thehovering and low-speed maneuvering performance of an underwater vehicle from the viewpoints ofguidance and control of an underwater vehicle equipped with 2 pairs of oscillating fins in watercurrents, development of CFD-based motion simulator and design test of flexible fins includingfluid-structure interaction

Notes: Introduction Ni-Mn-Ga films were grown on (110) MgO substrates by r.f. sputtering andpulsed laser deposition techniques. Texture analyses, in combination with electron microscopymeasurements, reveal that the films from the two deposition techniques both have a cubic L21structure, but differ in terms of their texture and grain morphology. The sputtered films grow alongthe 〈110〉 direction with completely random in-plane orientation. The PLD films, on the other hand,grow in the 〈422〉 direction such that there exists two distinct grain-types, where both types share anepitaxial relationship with the substrate. In general, the overall quality of the PLD films is better thanthe sputtered films. The growth conditions that influence film morphology and texture are discussed

Notes: In this work a 50Ni50Ti at % powder mixture, commercially pure, prepared bymechanical alloying in an attritor with the following conditions: the milling speed and the ballcharge were 1500 rpm and 15:1 respectively. The milling time was 1h under a nitrogen atmosphereat room temperature. After milling it was determined the particles size distribution, the phases by Xraydiffractions (XRD) and the powder morphology by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Thepowders after milling were compacted and hot extruded at 600 C with an extrusion ratio of 3 to 1and characterized by evaluation the density and microstructural determination by opticalmicroscopy. The obtained results are discussed to show that this route could be an alternative routeto prepare the shape memory alloy

Notes: In the shape memory alloys (SMAs) the thermal triggering induces reversible dimensionalchange by the phase transformation – these materials may also be ferriorferromagnetic, however,here only the ferromagnetic SMAs are discussed. In certain SMAs the austenitemartensitephasetransformation is influenced by the magnetic field as either austenite or martensite is promoted by thefield and this is exploited for the dimensional changes. However, in the magnetic shape memory(MSM) alloys no phase transformation occurs as the remarkable dimensional changes take place bythe twin variant changes in the martensitic phase activated by the external magnetic field at constanttemperature. In addition to the phase transformation or magnetic shape memory effect, the appliedmagnetic field may also result in the conventional magnetostriction (MS), enhance the superelasticity(magneticfieldassistedsuperelasticity MFAS) or induce the giant magnetocaloric effect (GMCE).Certain alloys such as NiMnGamay even be multifunctional showing more than one of theseeffects. The present paper gives an overview of the different types of the magnetically activated SMAalloys, their properties as well as their potentials for applications in the frameworks of the recentstudies

Notes: It is well known that FePd alloys are effective as a magneto-thermoelastic actuator material,because they have large magnetostriction and shape memory effect. In order to use the alloys for amicro-actuator, magnetic properties and microstructures have been examined as for rapidly solidifiedFe-29.6 at% Pd alloy ribbons. The ribbons exhibit a large magnetostriction at room temperature andgood shape memory effect. Magnetostriction and coercive force of the ribbons markedly depend onthe direction of the applied magnetic field. Maximum values of magnetostriction and coercive forceare obtained at θ = 85 degree (θ is the angle between the magnetic field and the ribbon plane). Reliefeffects corresponding to the formation of FCT martensite variants are observed on the grains. X-raydiffraction profile at room temperature shows that FCT martensitic phase and FCC parent phasecoexist in the ribbon. Dense striations are observed in the TEM bright field images of FCT martensiteplates. Selected area electron diffraction patterns revealed the striations to be thin twins

Notes: In order to fabricate two-dimensional micro actuators with shape memory alloy films, it isespecially important to evaluate the anisotropy of transformation strain that is caused by texture. Inthis paper, microstructures of sputter-deposited TiNi films are examined. The films of 1 μm inthickness are sputter-deposited on Si(001) substrates by RF magnetron multi-sputtering systemequipped with four separate confocal sources as well as with substrate heating. Pure Ti and Ni targetsof 50 mm in diameter are used for the sources. The films deposited at ambient temperature have beengenerally amorphous. However, we find that some films which are deposited at 773K of substratetemperature are crystalline, when we appropriately choose sputtering parameters such as sourcevoltage and the distance between a target and the substrate. X-ray powder diffraction and pole figuremeasurements reveal that these films are oriented with {110}B2 parallel or inclined at 45 degree tothe substrate. Furthermore, we also find that crystallized film is deposited even at 673K of substratetemperature by applying pulse bias voltage to the substrate

Notes: Power supplies are often the limiting factor for operation of many portable electronicdevices. Batteries contribute significantly to their weight and impose limitations on operationallongevity. Harvesting vibratory energy from the environment for conversion to electrical energyhas been proposed as a means to address these problems. Previously, DRDC Atlantic has shownthat single crystals of nickel-manganese-gallium (NiMnGa) can produce large reversible stressinducedand magnetic field-induced strains of up to 10%. It has been proposed that NiMnGamagnetic shape memory alloys may be an ideal alloy to harvest mechanical energy. The drawbackto monolithic NiMnGa crystals is that they are susceptible to intergranular fracture. To address thisissue, a composite of the alloy in a polymer matrix has been examined in the hopes of improvingtoughness and formability. Good bonding between the polymer and the powder is needed tofacilitate optimum transfer of force between the two components. The objective of this study wasto understand and optimize the polymer-alloy interactions. The polymer matrix chosen was DowCorning Sylgard 186. It was determined that the Sylgard 186 prepolymer base interacts with theoxidized surface of the NiMnGa particles. Silane coupling agents were also investigated toexamine their effect on the interfacial interactions. No change in properties were observed

Notes: In order to better understand the unique functional responses of shape memory alloys,improve the currently existing SMA modeling tools and used them beneficially in smart structureapplications, it is desirable to investigate the deformation/transformation processes in thesematerials in action – i.e. under stress and temperature variation. In this work, an overview ispresented on the applications of various recently developed or originally employed in-situexperimental methods and approaches to martensitic transformations in SMAs

Notes: Shape memory alloys (SMA) exhibit functional properties associated with the shapememory effect, responsible of the SMA shape recovery after a cycle of deforming-heating and of asimultaneous generation of mechanical work. Composite systems incorporating SMA wires havethe ability to actively change shape and other structural characteristics. The functional properties ofsuch adaptive composites are related to the martensitic transformation in the SMA elements and tothe constraining behaviour that the composite matrix has on the SMA wires. In this work thebehaviour of a shape memory alloy hybrid composite (SMAHC) is numerically and experimentallyinvestigated. A plate was fabricated using prestrained SMA wires embedded in an epoxy resin prepreg glass fibres composite system. Upon calorimetric and mechanical material characterization, afinite element model was used in order to predict the structural behaviour of the SMAHC. In theexperimental tests, the plate was clamped at one side and actuated via electrical heating.Temperature and displacement data were collected and compared with the prediction of the finiteelement model. The results show that the model is able to capture the shape change in the actuationregion, although a thorough description of the SMAHC behaviour requires further modelling work,including the simulation of the SMA loading history during composite manufacturing

Notes: Two basic processes, namely shear and shuffling of atomic planes can be considered aselementary mechanisms of displacive phase transformations. The atomistic models suitable toinvestigate the role of interfaces in the structural changes are tested. The many-body potentials areused for the description of interatomic forces. General displacements of atomic planes areexamined, i.e. γ-surface type calculations extensively used for stacking fault and lattice dislocationanalysis are applied to single plane shuffling and alternate shuffling of every other atomic planeproducing in combination with homogeneous deformation the hcp structure. Similar approachconsidering shear type planar displacements leads to the Zener path between the bcc and fcclattices. The effect of additional deformation required to obtain the close-packed atomicarrangements is analysed

Notes: Due to the complex microstructure and phase transformations taking place in ShapeMemory Alloys (SMA), the behaviour and properties of these materials are deeply influenced bytheir loading history in terms of stress, strain and temperature. Indeed, a thorough understanding ofthe effects of the loading history on SMA properties is fundamental for a correct modelling anddesign of SMA applications, in particular in the case of complex loading. An example are shapememory alloys embedded in composite systems, in which stress, strain and temperature varysimultaneously depending upon the properties of the SMA and composite. This work presents thefirst results of an experimental investigation on the effects of the loading history on SMAtransformation temperatures. Nitinol wires of untrained material were considered. Specimensconsisting of Martensite and R-phase were subjected to different loading histories, keeping in turnstress, strain or temperature at a constant value. Transformation temperatures at zero stress of thesesamples were measured via Differential Scanning Calorimetry. Contrarily to most constitutivemodels assumptions, the DSC results highlight a dependence of the transformation temperatures onthe loading history, influencing in particular the Martensite to Austenite phase transformation

Notes: The Shape Memory Effect on Ni-Ti thin films is strongly dependent on several factors:(i) chemical composition of the matrix, (ii) presence of precipitates and (iii) preferential orientation.Ni-Ti alloys derive their unique nonlinear and anisotropic mechanical behavior from stress-inducedmartensitic transformations, where the resulting strains are affected by crystallographic orientation.The influence of the texture on the transformation characteristics of Ni-Ti thin films is discussed onthe basis of models and experimental results of the literature. A brief review of the texture build-upon thin films obtained by different fabrication techniques (sputtering, melt spinning, diffusiontreatment of ultra-fine laminates, …) is presented. Details about in situ techniques allowing theidentification of the preferential orientation during the fabrication process are presented. Theprocessing parameters that more strongly influence the preferential orientation of the Ni-Ti thinfilms are identified. The mechanisms for the different microstructures are summarized and a specialemphasis is put on the type of preferential orientation and its evolution along the processing time

Notes: The need for high electric fields to drive dielectric elastomers is still retaining theirdiffusion as actuators in some areas of potential application, as in the case of biomedicaldisciplines. The development of new materials offering superior electromechanical properties isthus an essential requirement in order to effectively reduce the driving fields. In this light, thepresent work is aimed to enhance the electromechanical properties of two silicone and polyurethanebased dielectric elastomers, both by making particulate composites with high-permittivity ceramicfillers, and by blending with a highly polarisable polymeric phase. Due to a consequent worseningof the mechanical properties, pure composite architectures yielded only limited results on theoverall electromechanical response. With the blend approach, instead, both an increase of thedielectric permittivity and an unexpected reduction of the tensile elastic modulus were observed,leading to an overall increase of the electromechanical response. In any case, a key role appears tobe played by the nature and intensity of polarisation phenomena arising at interfaces betweendifferent phases

Notes: Carbon nanotubes have attracted extensive attention in the past few years because oftheir appealing mechanical and electronic properties. Yarns made through spinning multiwallcarbon nanotubes (MWNTs) have been reported. Here we study the application of these yarns aselectrochemical actuators, and as force sensors. MWNT yarns are mechanically strong with tensilestrengths reaching one GPa. When charge is stored in the yarns they change in length. This isthought to be because of a combination of electrostatic and quantum chemical effects. We reportstrains up to 0.6 %. The charged yarns can also generate current and change in voltage in responseto a change in the applied tension. Electrostatic and quantum effects contributing to actuation areintroduced along with the effect of the yarn geometry on actuation and other contributing factors

Notes: Composite actuators consisting of sheets of the solid polymer electrolyte (similar toNafion®) with Cu2+ counter-ions inserted and coated with platinum and copper metal layers (socalled Ionomeric Polymer-Metal Composites; IPMC-s) have been synthesized and theirelectromechanical performance upon actuation has been monitored. Resistivity measurements onthe electrodes show that the electrical conductivity of the membranes metal surface increases on thecathode side during the actuation process, contradictory to the situation when Cu is absent from themetal coating. This phenomenon is explained by the subsequent reduction of Cu2+ ions on thecathode upon actuation; Cu layer growth in this side prevents it from cracking and decreases itselectrode resistance. The phenomenon opens up for longer life-times for Cu-based IPMC-s.However, additional problems with Cu layer oxidation and Cu dendrite growth on the electrodesshould be considered

Notes: Micro-Nano-Technologies main application field will be in lifesciences for drug development, diagnostics and drug delivery. Typicalexamples are described for products already existing together with anoutlook for new emerging products and applications. Existing marketprognosis is discussed critically

Notes: Potential application of Carbon Nanotubes as a drug delivery system is limited by theirhydrophobity and their natural tendency to aggregate in the bundles. Dispersion and solubility ofSinglewall Carbon Nanotubes (SWCNT) in Phosphate Buffered Saline (PBS) solution via noncovalent and covalent interactions was investigated. Galactosyl-β1-Sphyngosine (glycolipidprecursor of cerebrosides, structured with a hydrophobic chain, a hydrophilic head and an aminegroup between them) was used.Pristine SWCNTs were wrapped with Galactosyl-β1-Sphyngosine (Gal-Sphy), whereas thecarboxylic groups of the functionalized CNTs were activated in order to interact with amine groupsof Galactosylsphyngosine and render the coating stronger.Samples dispersion was characterized by optical absorption spectroscopy (OAS). The comparisonand efficiency of the dispersion stability of the functionalized material in respect to the pristineSWCNTs will be presented. We exploited Raman Spectroscopy to evaluate relative purity of thesamples, and the Infrared analysis to characterize the presence of the functional groups on the tubessurface. The morphology of the samples was studied using high resolution transmission electronmicroscopy (HR-TEM)

Notes: This paper presents two biomedical microsystems for blood cell counting, designed andbuilt through MultiMEMS Multi-Project Wafer (MPW) service and the microBUILDER Europeanproject. Dies mm in size, made of a micromachined glass-silicon-glass triple stack, host twonew kinds of multiple micro-counters, suitable to investigate the feasibility of blood cell differentialanalysis by means of Coulter principle in a monolithic lab-on-a-chip, which integrates amicrofluidic network, sensing metal electrodes and light-guiding structures. Within these devices,impedance method gains some innovative features, both from microsystem technology itself (lowconsumptions of chemicals, better analytical performances, low dead volumes in multifunctionalinterconnected networks, parallel high-throughput processing, low-cost mass production) and fromnew project solutions: self-aligning illumination allows to use compact external sources (i.e, LEDs)and requires no delicate optics. Different working set-ups (ranging from series with fixed controlvolume to parallel differential) can be achieved by adding only few external components. It isfinally possible to combine electrical and optical measurements, oriented to multi-featureclassification of cell sub-populations

Notes: In order to understand the mechanism of the bending motion of the electroactive polymeractuators from the molecular interaction, we performed Monte Carlo simulations in two length scales;the micrometer scale and the nanometer scale. In the micrometer scale picture, the bending motion ofan actuator can be viewed as the inhomogeneous expansion/contraction of the three layer system. Wetheoretically formulated the deformation of the actuator in terms of the elastic constants and the stressexerted due to the applied voltage. For the nanometer scale, noting that the electrodes of the EAPactuators have porous structures, we modeled the anode and the cathode by the porous electrodeswhere the ions are confined in the space with the dimension comparable to the ion size. We foundthat significant osmotic stress arises in the porous electrodes when voltage is applied. The results ofsuch multi-scale analyses are combined with the experimental results to obtain the insights into themolecular mechanism of the actuators and to give the guideline for the molecular design of theactuators

Notes: Dielectric elastomer actuators (DEA) are a new class of actuators, exhibiting electricfield-induced strains. Upon electrical stimulation they can provide large strains and consequentlyelectrical forces. These abilities along with their high compliance make them candidates for activevibration control. This parer presents a general framework for the usage of DEA as elements ofactive vibration control systems. The electrical and mechanical model of the DEA and a basiccontrol law, for varying the voltage, is reviewed. The basic idea is to reduce the acceleration of thevibrating equipment when the system approaches its equilibrium. The application of the actuator ina single-dof-mass-spring system is modeled. The results with and without control are presented andshow the large capabilities of the actuator to suppress the vibrations induced by an external force.DEA has viscoelastic properties, which can further increase the damping capabilities of thevibration absorber but on the other hand produce a time delay, which must be taken into account.Furthermore, the technological issues arisen -structure of the actuator, power and equipment needs,effect of prestrain and frequency, distributed actuation- are discussed

Notes: Work behaviours and training effects of artificial muscle based onelectrochemomechanical strain (ECMS) of conducting polymer, polypyrrole (PPy) films havebeen studied under tensile stress up to 5 MPa. PPy films were electrochemically deposited indodecylbenzene sulfonic acid. Cyclic voltammetry and ECMS were measured in 1M NaClaqueous solutions. At higher stress, a larger creeping due to the conformation change, slippingand/or breaking of polymer chains was observed. After the experience of large tensile stress anappreciable increase of strain (training effect) was observed, when the film was actuated at lowertensile stress. The training effect was discussed in terms of the relaxation of anisotropic straininduced during the creeping. The conversion efficiency from electrical to mechanical energies was0.07 % at 3 - 4 MPa being the maximum. Degradation of film was found to be accelerated underhigher tensile stress from the measurement of conductivity

Notes: Films of conducting polymers, when used as electrodes in an electrolytic solution,oxidize and reduce under flow of anodic or cathodic currents, respectively. Theelectrochemical reactions induce conformational movements of the chains, generation ordestruction of free volume and interchange of ions and solvent with the electrolyte giving agel that reacts, swells or shrinks. Electric pulses acting on reactive gels constituted bypolymers, solvent and ions are the closest artificial material to those that constitute actuatingbiological organs. The electrochemical reaction is kinetically controlled by the conformationalmovements or by the counterions diffusion through the gel: it works under electrochemicalquasi-equilibrium and defines, at any intermediate oxidation state, equilibrium potentials. Anyvariable (mechanical, chemical, optical, magnetic..) acting on the equilibrium will inducechanges on the working potential of any device, driven by a constant current, based on thisreaction: actuating-sensing devices based on the electrochemical properties are expected.The activation energy of the reaction can be obtained from the oxidation of metal coatedelectrodes. This energy includes two terms: the constant chemical activation energy and theconformational energy related to the packed structure of the polymeric conformations. Thisconformational energy is the basic magnitude for both actuating and sensing properties,opening the way for their quantification. Information can be stored in continuousconformational energetic levels being read by anodic oxidation

Notes: IPMCs are suitable candidates to realize artificial muscles for possible autonomous applications. Insuch a field power budget is of great importance. The goal of this paper is to maximize the IPMCelectromechanical conversion efficiency in order to increase the performance of these transducers.More specifically, the optimal frequency, amplitude, and waveform to be used to drive the IPMCmembrane has been investigated. By using a novel model of IPMC actuators, the waveform of theapplied voltage signal that maximize the IPMC conversion efficiency was found. The amplitude ofthe first 15 harmonics of the IPMC driving signal was determined, for different constrains such asthe minimum output power and the maximum input voltage.The paper reports about the proposed IPMC model, the optimization algorithm, the optimal drivingsignals, and the validation of the approach

Notes: This paper discusses a distributed system modeling of the electrical impedance of ionicpolymer-metal composites from the point of view of the electrode roughness. A diffusion-likeequation is derived from the distributed circuit model which represents the fractal-like distribution ofthe polymer-electrode interface. The port-Hamiltonian representation of the system is also shown. Inthe experiment, the frequency response of the impedance is measured under various conditions

Notes: Stimuli-sensitive change their volume (equilibrium degree of swelling), mechanicalproperties (elasticity, stiffness) and molecular transport properties in response to a small change inthe properties of the swelling agent, like temperature, solvent composition, pH value, ionconcentration, etc. Widespread used smart gels take advantages of the volume phase transitioninduced by a change of temperature. The temperature of volume phase transition depends on theinteraction between gel and solvent. For a gel with defined chemical structure it can be changed bythe composition of the swelling agent, e.g. content of salt or organic components. For application,e.g. in MEMS, an easy and controlled stimulation of volume phase transition is required. Thedegree of swelling (Q) and therefore the dimension of gel structures are determined bytemperature. It is possible to regulate Q to a predetermined value by heating/cooling. Thermalenergy inside a gel-based device can be easily generated and regulated by incorporated heatingresistors and temperature sensors. Different structures (micro-spheres, pads, patterned layers) ofsmart hydrogels are applied. The switching between two different states of swelling is induced bychanges of temperature or by changing the environment. Using the example of gel-basedmicrovalves, sensors, sensor arrays, pumps, and chemostats (concentration control of chemicalsubstances) the sensor-actuator properties and advantages of this group of polymers are discussed

Notes: An effective wound dressing is not only able to protect the wound area from itssurroundings to avoid infection and dehydration, but also to speed up the healing process byproviding an optimum microenvironment for healing, removing any excess wound exudates, andallowing continuous tissue reconstruction. In this study, two biodegradable polymers,polycaprolactone (PCL) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), were used to electrospin nanofibremembranes. The wound dressing performances of these two membranes were compared with thewound dressing performances of protein coated membranes and conventional non-woven cottonwound dressings. In addition, fibre morphology, porous structural property, mechanical properties ofthe nanofibre membranes, and their drainage capacity and wound skin histology were examined

Notes: In the event of a significant injury, human bone must be repaired by artificial means. In the presentstudy, we used titanium (Ti) to create a scaffold for cell renewal with an emphasis on strength.Because scaffolds for cell renewal require a microporous structure that enables supply of oxygenand nutrients, sintered Ti fiber was used. However, although titanium has a high fracture toughness,it does not bind to hydroxyapatite (HAp), the main component of bone, and thus requires additionof bioactivity. Following treatment by sodium hydroxide, titanium fibers were heated and immersedin simulated body fluid. Through this process, HAp was formed on the titanium surface to create abioactive material with both a high strength and biocompatibility. Following approximately twoweeks of immersion in simulated body fluid, HAp was formed such that it covered the surroundingsof titanium fibers without any gaps. In addition, the fracture condition of HAp was analyzed byconducting mechanical tests, such as tensile strength and compression tests, on the titanium fiberson which HAp was formed. Furthermore, collagen coating was performed on the titanium surface,and the material was immersed in simulated body fluid to investigate and compare HAp formation

Notes: HAp (Hydroxyapatite) and α-TCP (alpha tribasic calcium phosphate) are non-toxic tohuman cells and, thus, have been studied for applications as biomaterials. HAp is a bioactivematerial that is not readily absorbed by the body; it offers both high strength and better tissueadhesiveproperties than α-TCP. In contrast, α-TCP is highly bioabsorbable; it is quickly absorbedby the body, and, therefore, for example, disappears before bone is completely replaced. If porousbeads could be fabricated that would take advantage of the useful properties of α-TCP and HAp,they could be used as excellent scaffolds for cultivating cells. In the present study, ceramic beadswith α-TCP at the center were fabricated and coated with a functionally graded film of HAp. Ascaffold based on this configuration would be expected to have the following characteristics: goodcell adhesion; strong beads; and a rate of absorption into the body that would be easy to control. Inaddition, to accelerate the formation of porous structure, some acid solutions were used to dissolvethe beads surface layer and to penetrate pores toward inside of the bead. HAp formation throughhydrolytic reaction seemed to be promoted by these acid solutions

Notes: Due to the merits of zirconia ceramics such as high strength, toughness, and abrasionresistance, as well as chemical stability in vivo, yttria-stabilized tetragonal zirconia polycrystals(Y-TZP) are currently used in the femoral head of hip prostheses. However, this material has a limitedrange of use because it is a bioinert material that does not interact with bone tissue and thus does noteasily integrate directly with bone. Therefore, addition of a material surface that enables the in vivoformation of a bone-like apatite layer that exhibits bioactivity and facilitates interactions andintegration with bone tissue is desired. In addition, by developing a surface structure that enhancesmechanical bonding, this material can be expected to be used as an alternative aggregate under loadbearing conditions. In the present study, structural design of the material surface, addition ofbioactivity using reagents treatment, confirmation of formation of the apatite layer using immersion insimulated body fluid, mechanical assessment, and wettability testing were conducted with theobjective of controlling interactions between zirconia ceramics and the body

Notes: The most definite feature in polyrotaxanes, in which many cyclic compounds are threadedonto a linear polymeric chains capped with bulky end-groups, is the mobility of cyclic compounds:these cyclic compounds may rotate and/or slide along the polymeric chain. Our previous studies haveclarified that the mobility of ligands linked to the cyclic compounds is closely related to enhancingmultivalent interaction with biological systems. This concept is now exploiting more practicalapplications for drug delivery such as gene delivery. We have designed biocleavable polyrotaxanesthat have a necklace-like structure between many dimethylaminoethylcarbamoyl-α-cyclodextrins(DMAE-α-CDs) and a disulfide (SS)-introduced poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) chain. Thepolyrotaxanes were found to show sufficient cleavage of S-S linkages under reducible condition,which led to triggering pDNA release via the dissociation of the non-covalent linkages betweenDMAE-α-CDs and the PEG chain. The polyrotaxanes were finally clarified to exhibit greattransfection activity as well as non cytotoxicity

Notes: The preparation and charactersiation of novel lipid coated PLGA nanoparticles wasinvestigated in the presented study. The size of the pure nanoparticles could be adjusted independence on the stabilizer content. The supported lipid bilayer surrounding the nanoparticles wasformed by the liposome spreading technique. The Lipid- coated nanoparticles were characterisedusing Photon Correlation Spectroscopy (PCS) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) investigations.The bioadhesive properties was proofed in a cell culture model

Notes: Glycopolymers carrying sulfate saccharides were found to suppress the formation ofamyloid fibrils by amyloid beta peptides, as evaluated by fluorescence assay of thioflavin T and AFM.CD spectra showed that the conformation of amyloid beta peptides was changed from beta peptidesdepended on the glycopolymer additives, and that the glycopolymer additives reduced the β-sheetcontents. Neutralization activity was confirmed by in vitro assay with HeLa cells. The sulfate groupand the appropriate sugar contents were essential for the inhibitory effect

Notes: One of the key factors to obtain large displacements and high efficiency with dielectricelectroactive polymer (DEAPs) actuators is to have compliant electrodes. Attempts to scale DEAPsdown to the mm or micrometer range have encountered major difficulties, mostly due to thechallenge of micropatterning sufficiently compliant electrodes. Simply evaporating or sputteringthin metallic films on elastomer membranes produces DEAPs whose stiffness is dominated by themetallic film.Low energy metal ion implantation for fabricating compliant electrodes in DEAPs presents severaladvantages: a) it is clean to work with, b) it does not add thick passive layers, and c) it can be easilypatterned. We use this technology to fabricate DEAPs micro-actuators whose relative displacementis the same as for macro-scale DEAPs. With transmission electron microscope (TEM) we observedthe formation of metallic clusters within the elastomer (PDMS) matrix, forming a nano-composite.We focus our studies on relating the properties of this nano-composite to the implantationparameters. We identified the optimal implantation parameters for which an implanted electrodepresents an exceptional combination of high electrical conductivity and low compliance

Notes: Interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs) have been developed for many years leading tomaterials with controlled properties. When an electronic conducting polymer (ECP) is incorporatedinto an IPN, this one becomes a conducting IPN (CIPN). The synthetic pathway ensures a nonhomogeneous dispersion of the ECP through the IPN thickness of the material. The system is thussimilar to a layered one with the advantage that the intimate combination of the three polymersneeds no adhesive interface. The last step in making the CIPN into an actuator is to ensure the ionicconductivity by incorporation of an ionic salt. The highest ionic conductivity through the IPN matrixis necessary in order to ensure the best actuation. The chosen salt is an ionic liquid, i.e. 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (EMImTFSI). Based on IPN architectureselectrochemical actuators have been designed and actuation in open air has been characterized

Notes: Bistable structures, such as buckled beams, are characterized by a two-well potential.Their nonlinear properties are currently exploited in actuators to produce relatively highdisplacements and forces with low actuation energies. We investigate the use of distributedmultiparameter actuation to control the buckling and postbuckling behaviour of a three-layerpiezoelectric beam pinned at either end. A two-parameter bending actuation controls the transversalmotion, whilst an axial actuation modulates the tangent bending stiffness. The postbucklingbehaviour is studied by reducing to a 2 dof system a nonlinear extensible elastica model. When thebending actuation is spatially symmetric, the postbuckling phenomena are characterized by a snapthroughinstability. The use of a two-parameter actuation opens new transition scenarios, where it ispossible to get quasi-static transitions between the two equilibria of the buckled beam, without anyinstability phenomenon

Notes: A current challenge of physical, chemical and engineering sciences is to developtheoretical tools for predicting structure and physical properties of hybrid organic inorganicnanocomposite from the knowledge of a few input parameters. However, despite all efforts,progress in the prediction of macroscopic physical properties from structure has been slow. Majordifficulties relate to the fact that (a) the microstructural elements in multiphase material are notshaped or oriented as in the idealizations of computer simulations, and more than one type cancoexist; (b) multiple length and time scales are generally involved and must be taken into account,when overall thermodynamic and mechanical properties wish to be determined, and finally (c) theeffect of the interphases/interfaces on the physical properties is often not well understood andcharacterized. As a consequence, their role is often neglected in the development of new theoreticaltools or they are treated in a very empirical way. In this work, we focused on issues (b) and (c) in amultiscale molecular simulation framework, with the ultimate goal of developing acomputationally-based nanocomposite designing tool. In particular, we developed a hierarchicalprocedure in which lower scale (i.e., QM, MD and /or MC) simulations are performed to obtainparameters for higher scale (i.e., mesoscopic and/or finite element) calculations, from which thebulk properties of the hybrid nanocomposite material can be ultimately estimated

Notes: Most polymers used in clinical applications today are materials that have been developedoriginally for application areas other than biomedicine. On the other side, different biomedicalapplications are demanding different combinations of material properties and functionalities.Compared to the intrinsic material properties, a functionality is not given by nature but result fromthe combination of the polymer architecture and a suitable process. Examples for functionalities thatplay a prominent role in the development of multifunctional polymers for medical applications arebiofunctionality (e.g. cell or tissue specificity), degradability, or shape-memory functionality. In thissense, an important aim for developing multifunctional polymers is tailoring of biomaterials forspecific biomedical applications. Here the traditional approach, which is designing a single newhomo- or copolymer, reaches its limits. The strategy, that is applied here, is the development ofpolymer systems whose macroscopic properties can be tailored over a wide range by variation ofmolecular parameters.The Shape-memory capability of a material is its ability to trigger a predefined shape change byexposure to an external stimulus. A change in shape initiated by heat is called thermally-inducedshape-memory effect. Thermally, light-, and magnetically induced shape-memory polymers will bepresented, that were developed especially for minimally invasive surgery and other biomedicalapplications. Furthermore triple-shape polymers will be introduced, that have the capability toperform two subsequent shape changes. Thus enabling more complex movements of a polymericmaterial

Notes: To control and maximize the shrinking rates of thermo-sensitive organic-inorganic (O-I)hybrid gels, microporous structure of gels could be controlled by ice-templating. Water-swollen gelseasily became porous after freezing. Applying the freezing method effectively accelerate theshrinking rates of the poly(N-isopropylacrylamide), polyNIPA-based O-I hybrid gels by two differentways. One is the interpenetrating network with polyNIPA and polysiloxane. The other is thecopolymer network of NIPA and a vinyl monomer possessing the trimethoxysilane, of whichcrosslinking was carried out by sol-gel reaction. Their thermally-triggered shrinking kinetics wasinvestigated by measuring the weight change of gels. Shrinking coefficients (D) were determined byfitting the shrinking data with the Fick’s model. The coefficients after applying the freezing methodincreased to approximately 10-3 cm2s-1 while those before freezing were on the order of 10-5 - 10-6cm2s-1

Notes: To control the microstructure and the responsive rates of hydrogels, a temperature-inducedphase separation (TIPS) method applied to an organic-inorganic hybrid hydrogel. A copolymerbetween thermosensitive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide), polyNIPA, and a vinyl monomer possessinga trimethoxysilyl group was synthesized by radical reaction. Its cross-linking could be carried out byhydrolytic polycondensation of trimethoxysilyl groups. During both reactions, the pre-gel solutionwas separated into two phases by heating above a lower critical solution temperature of theelongating polyNIPA copolymer. The responsive rates of the microporous gel could be controlled bycharacteristic diffusion path length as the thickness of micropore wall, instead of the macroscopicsample size. Therefore, the shrinking rates of the hydrogel could be successfully maximized by fixingthe phase-separated, microporous polymer network. Besides the interconnectivity of generated pores,the thermally triggered shrinking kinetics was investigated

Notes: The optical phase of a beam diffracted in an acousto-optic interaction may be directlycontrolled with the acoustic phase, but limitations occur in the case of commonly used AO devices,based on strong anisotropic AO interaction. In our study we present measurement and theoreticalcalculation of the phase shift of a laser beam diffracted in an AO deflector. The optical phase is afunction of the acoustic and optical frequency and of the relative spatial positions of the interactingbeams. We measured the phase shift with a heterodyne setup, where we measured the phase of theheterodyne signal relative to a fixed reference. We found that the phase shift introduced by the AOcrystal is linear with the sound frequency, its gradient is of 10-20rad/MHz and depends mainly onthe optical beam's distance from the transducer. We show that this phase shift can be derivedtheoretically from the momentum matching condition that must be fulfilled at each optical andacoustic frequency pair

Notes: Lithographic processes belong to the most critical steps in the fabrication of microelectroniccircuits. Optical projection lithography which transfers the layout of a mask into a photoresistat the top surface of a silicon wafer is still the workhorse of semiconductor industry. Many innovationsregarding the optical imaging system and the introduction of new mask technologies havepushed optical projection techniques close to their theoretical limits. Nowadays, optical projectionlithography is used to create 45nm features with a wavelength of 193nm.This paper discusses the impact of the mask on the performance of a lithographic process. For largefeature sizes the mask can be considered as infinitely thin and its local transmission and phase canbe directly derived from the design. For mask features comparable to the wavelength of the usedlight and below, the mask becomes a complex scattering object which has a pronounced impact onthe intensity, phase, and polarization of the diffracted light. The light diffraction from the mask hasto be computed by rigorous electromagnetic methods. Several consequences with respect to thechoice of most appropriate mask materials and geometries will be discussed

Notes: This paper presents a new method for sputtering solar selective absorber coatings. Radiofrequency magnetron reactive sputtering created stainless steel/stainless steel nitride (SS/SS-N)cermet (ceramic-metal composite) thin films under varied nitrogen gas flow ratios. In this presentstudy, a stainless steel material is used for one-target sputtering to manufacture a solar selectiveabsorber film having good solar absorptance of 0.91 and low thermal emittance of 0.06. Thissputtering process shows considerable and stable usefulness due to the anti-oxidation and singletarget. Optical constants n and k have been determined by spectroscopic ellipsometry for cermetcomposite in a reactive gas flow from 0 percent to 50 percent. Based on the nitrogen content of thefilm, we used a different oscillator to analyze the film. When the nitrogen gas flow reaches 10 percent,the sputtered film has a significant transformation from metal to cermet properties. When the nitrogengas flow goes above 17.5 percent, then the film transforms to a dielectric film which can be ananti-reflection layer. A solar absorptance of 0.92 was accepted as the theoretical prediction of optimalselective solar-absorbing three-layer processes which shows that the experimental results agree wellwith the theoretical prediction

Notes: The concept that the civil engineering infrastructure may be streamlined through the use of Smarttechnology has been mooted for well over a decade. The thought is particularly appealing for largeartifacts such as major buildings and bridges. The infrequent but extremely dramatic catastrophicfailures particularly of major bridge structures inevitably reignite the debate. This paper endeavours topresent a critique of the Smart Bridge both from a technical and socioeconomic perspective. Whilst thebasic sensing technology is undoubtedly available there do remain significant areas for necessaryimprovement, notably in sensor location and damage identification. Additionally the link between thesocioeconomic and political domains and the technologists has only recently attracted serious attention.The conclusion is that the tantalising prospect of the Smart Bridge whilst attractive, continues to needsubstantial technical development and a more effective interface into the economic and planningcommunities

Notes: Well-ordered organosilicate mesoporous coatings with the 3D-hexagonal symmetry are preparedby the sol-gel technique. These films contain high amounts of hydrophobic methyl groups at thepore surface and do not absorb moisture making possible their use as low-index layers ininterferential antireflective devices. Besides, these films also appear as good hosts forphotochromic dyes leading to coatings for optical switching devices. Methyl groups andmesoporosity offer optimized environments for photochromic dyes dispersed by multiimpregnationtechnique

Notes: Electrochromic (EC) device technology can be used for modulating the transmittance ofvisible light and solar radiation in windows in buildings as well as for other see-throughapplications. This paper emphasizes the great energy savings that can be achieved in the builtenvironment, jointly with improved indoor comfort for the users of the building. Manufacturingaspects are considered with particular focus on potentially low-cost methods possible to implementwith roll-to-roll technology. In particular the paper discusses recent work on foil-type devicesembodying sputter deposited WO3 and NiO-based films joined by a polymer electrolyte

Notes: Over the last few years, optical fiber sensors have seen increased acceptance andwidespread use for a variety of applications ranging from structural sensing and health monitoringof composites and structures in civil and aeronautic areas; to pressure and temperature sensors foroil and gas reservoir monitoring to name just a few. Among them Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) basedsensors have become widely known and popular within and out the photonics community and seena rise in their utilization and commercial growth. Given the capability of FBGs to measure a multitudeof parameters such as strain, temperature, pressure, chemical and bio-logical agents and manyothers coupled with their flexibility of design to be used as single point or multi-point sensingarrays and their relative low cost, make them ideal devices to be adopted for a multitude of differentsensing applications and implemented in different fields and industries. This work first focuses onsome recent experiences in the use of FBGs for opto-acoustic sensors and railway monitoring andthen reviews the advances in the area of FBGs evanescent wave sensors as valuable technologicalplatforms for chemical and biological applications