Why Do My Squiggles Look Funny? A Gallery of Compromised Seismic Signals

Author(s):  
Adam T. Ringler ◽  
David B. Mason ◽  
Gabi Laske ◽  
Tyler Storm ◽  
Mary Templeton

Abstract Seismic instruments are highly sensitive and capable of recording a large range of different Earth signals. The high sensitivity of these instruments also makes them prone to various failures. Although many failures are very obvious, such as a dead channel, there are other more subtle failures that easily go unnoticed by both network operators and data users. This work documents several different types of failure modes in which the instrument is no longer faithfully recording ground-motion data. Although some of these failure modes make the data completely unusable, there are also a number of failures in which the data can still be used for certain applications. Of course, the ideal situation is to identify as soon as possible when data become compromised and to have the network operator fix the station. However, knowing how the data became compromised can also help data users to identify if the data can still be used for their particular application. This work in no way attempts to exhaustively document recording failures but rather to communicate examples and equip the reader with ways of identifying failure modes.

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
E. D. Herbschleb ◽  
H. Kato ◽  
T. Makino ◽  
S. Yamasaki ◽  
N. Mizuochi

AbstractQuantum sensors are highly sensitive since they capitalise on fragile quantum properties such as coherence, while enabling ultra-high spatial resolution. For sensing, the crux is to minimise the measurement uncertainty in a chosen range within a given time. However, basic quantum sensing protocols cannot simultaneously achieve both a high sensitivity and a large range. Here, we demonstrate a non-adaptive algorithm for increasing this range, in principle without limit, for alternating-current field sensing, while being able to get arbitrarily close to the best possible sensitivity. Therefore, it outperforms the standard measurement concept in both sensitivity and range. Also, we explore this algorithm thoroughly by simulation, and discuss the T−2 scaling that this algorithm approaches in the coherent regime, as opposed to the T−1/2 of the standard measurement. The same algorithm can be applied to any modulo-limited sensor.


Author(s):  
James C. K. Lai ◽  
Marco P. Schoen ◽  
Arya Ebrahimpour ◽  
Alok Bhushan ◽  
Christopher K. Daniels ◽  
...  

The development of biosensors has been astronomical with the advent of the rapid growth of nanomaterials and nanotechnology. Nanobiosensors are becoming ubiquitous in numerous biomedical applications. Thus, there is a great impetus to exploit smart nanoparticles and other nanomaterials for designing and fabricating smart nanobiosensors that are ultrasensitive and biocompatible. We are developing smart self-assembling biosensors that can detect specific biomolecules (e.g., enzymes, cofactors, metabolites, drugs, hormones, etc.) from micro- to nanomolar levels. Applications of the biosensors include detection of organ dysfunction and/or failure (e.g., liver malfunction, heart failure, etc.), early detection of malignant cancers, toxicant identification, and other biomarkers of diseases. Although nanobiosensors that possess high sensitivity and specificity have been designed and marketed, one fundamental issue remains to be resolved. This important issue is one concerning biocompatibility. Thus, in our development of smart biosensors using nanomaterials, we have adopted a dual purpose approach. (i) On the one hand, it is necessary to systematically and comprehensively evaluate the material properties, characterize and model the signal sensing ability, and determine the biocompatibility of materials to be employed for the design of nanobiosensors. (ii) On the other hand, it is imperative to identify the ideal criteria for the designs of fast-response smart self-assembling nanobiosensors for biomarker detection. Based on a critical review of the literature and consideration of the biocompatibility, functional characterization, and other related issues discussed above, we have identify a set of criteria for the design of fast-response smart self-assembling nanobiosensors for detection of multiple biomarkers. We have also identified many biomedical areas where such nanobiosensors can be applied to detect biomarkers for various diseases. Our dual purpose approach will ultimately lead to the design of much more biocompatible and highly sensitive nanobiosensors and diagnostic equipment (nanobiosensor arrays).


Sensors ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 1219 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bing Lv ◽  
Xingtong Chen ◽  
Chunguo Liu

In this work, polyurethane sponge is employed as the structural substrate of the sensor. Graphene oxide (GO) and polypyrrole (PPy) are alternately coated on the sponge fiber skeleton by charge layer-by-layer assembly (LBL) to form a multilayer composite conductive layer to prepare the piezoresistive sensors. The 2D GO sheet is helpful for the formation of the GO layers, and separating the PPy layer. The prepared GO/PPy@PU (polyurethane) conductive sponges still had high compressibility. The unique fragmental microstructure and synergistic effect made the sensor reach a high sensitivity of 0.79 kPa−1. The sensor could detect as low as 75 Pa, exhibited response time less than 70 ms and reproducibility over 10,000 cycles, and could be used for different types of motion detection. This work opens up new opportunities for high-performance piezoresistive sensors and other electronic devices for GO/PPy composites.


Author(s):  
Kazumichi Ogura ◽  
Michael M. Kersker

Backscattered electron (BE) images of GaAs/AlGaAs super lattice structures were observed with an ultra high resolution (UHR) SEM JSM-890 with an ultra high sensitivity BE detector. Three different types of super lattice structures of GaAs/AlGaAs were examined. Each GaAs/AlGaAs wafer was cleaved by a razor after it was heated for approximately 1 minute and its crosssectional plane was observed.First, a multi-layer structure of GaAs (100nm)/AlGaAs (lOOnm) where A1 content was successively changed from 0.4 to 0.03 was observed. Figures 1 (a) and (b) are BE images taken at an accelerating voltage of 15kV with an electron beam current of 20pA. Figure 1 (c) is a sketch of this multi-layer structure corresponding to the BE images. The various layers are clearly observed. The differences in A1 content between A1 0.35 Ga 0.65 As, A1 0.4 Ga 0.6 As, and A1 0.31 Ga 0.69 As were clearly observed in the contrast of the BE image.


Author(s):  
Max T. Otten

Labelling of antibodies with small gold probes is a highly sensitive technique for detecting specific molecules in biological tissue. Larger gold probes are usually well visible in TEM or STEM Bright-Field images of unstained specimens. In stained specimens, however, the contrast of the stain is frequently the same as that of the gold labels, making it virtually impossible to identify the labels, especially when smaller gold labels are used to increase the sensitivity of the immunolabelling technique. TEM or STEM Dark-Field images fare no better (Figs. 1a and 2a), again because of the absence of a clear contrast difference between gold labels and stain.Potentially much more useful is backscattered-electron imaging, since this will show differences in average atomic number which are sufficiently large between the metallic gold and the stains normally used. However, for the thin specimens and at high accelerating voltages of the STEM, the yield of backscattered electrons is very small, resulting in a very weak signal. Consequently, the backscattered-electron signal is often too noisy for detecting small labels, even for large spot sizes.


Author(s):  
K. H. Sedeek ◽  
K. Aboualfotouh ◽  
S. M. Hassanein ◽  
N. M. Osman ◽  
M. H. Shalaby

Abstract Background Acute bilateral lower limb weakness is a common problem in children which necessitates a rapid method for diagnosis. MRI is a non-invasive imaging technique that produces high-quality images of the internal structure of the brain and spinal cord. Results MRI was very helpful in reaching rapid and prompt diagnosis in children with acute inability to walk. Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM), Guillain–Barré syndrome (GBS), and acute transverse myelitis (ATM) were the most common causes in our study. MRI proved to be of high sensitivity in detecting the lesions and reaching the diagnosis in ADEM and GBS; however, there was no significant relation between the lesions’ size, enhancement pattern, and severity of the disease or prognosis, yet in ATM the site of the lesion and number of cord segment affection were significantly related to the severity of the disease and prognosis. Conclusion MRI is a quick tool to reach the diagnosis of children with acute secondary inability to walk, and to eliminate other differential diagnosis which is essential for proper treatment and rapid full recovery. It is highly sensitive in detecting the lesions, their site and size.


RSC Advances ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (39) ◽  
pp. 23975-23984
Author(s):  
Xue Yang ◽  
Yixia Ren ◽  
Hongmei Chai ◽  
Xiufang Hou ◽  
Zhixiang Wang ◽  
...  

Four fluorescent 2D Zn-MOFs based on a flexible triangular ligand and linear N-donor ligands are hydrothermally prepared and used to detect nitrobenzene in aqueous solution with high sensitivity, demonstrating their potential as fluorescent sensors.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Wenjie Yan ◽  
Huei-Ru Fuh ◽  
Yanhui Lv ◽  
Ke-Qiu Chen ◽  
Tsung-Yin Tsai ◽  
...  

AbstractThere is an emergent demand for high-flexibility, high-sensitivity and low-power strain gauges capable of sensing small deformations and vibrations in extreme conditions. Enhancing the gauge factor remains one of the greatest challenges for strain sensors. This is typically limited to below 300 and set when the sensor is fabricated. We report a strategy to tune and enhance the gauge factor of strain sensors based on Van der Waals materials by tuning the carrier mobility and concentration through an interplay of piezoelectric and photoelectric effects. For a SnS2 sensor we report a gauge factor up to 3933, and the ability to tune it over a large range, from 23 to 3933. Results from SnS2, GaSe, GeSe, monolayer WSe2, and monolayer MoSe2 sensors suggest that this is a universal phenomenon for Van der Waals semiconductors. We also provide proof of concept demonstrations by detecting vibrations caused by sound and capturing body movements.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (15) ◽  
pp. 1823-1831
Author(s):  
Xiaomei Wang ◽  
Li Ma ◽  
Shijiao Sun ◽  
Tingwei Liu ◽  
Hao Zhou ◽  
...  

We have developed a SERS magnetic immunoassay method based on the principle of sandwich method for rapid and quantitative detection of IL-6. The developed SERS method has the advantages of high sensitivity and detection time is only 15 min.


Nanomaterials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 1207
Author(s):  
Hong Jae Cheon ◽  
Quynh Huong Nguyen ◽  
Moon Il Kim

Inspired by the active site structure of natural horseradish peroxidase having iron as a pivotal element with coordinated histidine residues, we have developed histidine coated magnetic nanoparticles (His@MNPs) with relatively uniform and small sizes (less than 10 nm) through one-pot heat treatment. In comparison to pristine MNPs and other amino acid coated MNPs, His@MNPs exhibited a considerably enhanced peroxidase-imitating activity, approaching 10-fold higher in catalytic reactions. With the high activity, His@MNPs then were exploited to detect the important neurotransmitter acetylcholine. By coupling choline oxidase and acetylcholine esterase with His@MNPs as peroxidase mimics, target choline and acetylcholine were successfully detected via fluorescent mode with high specificity and sensitivity with the limits of detection down to 200 and 100 nM, respectively. The diagnostic capability of the method is demonstrated by analyzing acetylcholine in human blood serum. This study thus demonstrates the potential of utilizing His@MNPs as peroxidase-mimicking nanozymes for detecting important biological and clinical targets with high sensitivity and reliability.


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