Elimination of aliasing in LA-ICP-MS by alignment of laser and mass spectrometer

We have developed a device that fires the laser in alignment with the measurement cycle of sequential ICP-MS instruments, allowing quadrupole LA-ICP-MS analysis to be performed using fast response ablation cells.

Abstract P171: The Intermediate Korotkoff Sounds: Variation In Sound Proportions In Different Age Groups Of Men And Women In A Healthy Adult Population

There are 5 known Korotkoff sounds which occur during a standard blood pressure (BP) measurement cycle, the first 4 (K1 to K4) having specific acoustic signatures, and the fifth (K5) occurring where sound first becomes absent. The different Korotkoff sound proportions (KSPs) are not well understood. Using bespoke acoustic analysis technology, we compared KSPs (K1P, K2P, K3P, K4P) in normotensive men and women at different ages and described the effect of normalising the cuff deflation rate (CDR) to allow 60 heart beats (CDR 60 ) versus a standard 3mmHg/s (CDR 3mmHg ). At a CDR 3mmHg , men had a higher K2P (36% vs 26%, p=0.006) and lower K3P (27% vs 38%, p=0.002) than women. K3P significantly increased with age in both men (p<0.001) and women (p<0.004). CDR 60 caused a significant drop in K2P (p<0.001) and rise in K3P (p=0.019). These differences may reflect changes in vascular stiffness which may vary with gender, age and CDR. To our knowledge, this phenomenon has never been described before and requires further investigation.

Memristive Properties of PANI-Polysterene/PVDF-TrFE Interface

The article presents the results of an experimental study of the transport of charge carriers through semiconductor PANI-polystyrene/ ferroelectric PVDF-TrFE interface. Current-voltage characteristics of the structure under study have a typical form for memristors and may be explained by the movement of charge carriers in the internal switchable field of the crystal ferroelectric microregions located within a bulk volume of amorphous PVDF-TrFE matrix. This assumption is subject to XRD phase analysis, FTIR spectroscopy, and X-ray EDS microanalysis. A long-term (about 100 h) relaxation is detected for the resistance of the PANI-polysturene/PVDF-TrFE interface after the current-voltage characteristics measurement cycle that is associated with the processes of capture and release traps of charge carriers.

Evaluation of surface blood flow in intact and ruptured canine cruciate ligaments using laser Doppler flowmetry

SummaryObjective: To evaluate the usefulness of laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF) to measure surface blood flow in canine cruciate ligaments, compare measurements in different sites of intact and partially ruptured canine cranial cruciate ligaments (CrCL) and intact caudal cruciate ligaments (CaCL), and investigate any association between surface blood flow in partially ruptured CrCL and synovitis or duration of clinical signs.Study design: Case-controlled clinical study.Animals: Sixteen dogs with partially ruptured CrCL and five dogs with intact CrCL.Methods: Blood cell flux (BCF) readings during three measurement cycles using LDF at two sites in each ligament (mid-substance and the distal portion of the CrCL, and mid-substance and the proximal portion of the CaCL) were recorded. Synovial changes were graded grossly and histologically using the Osteoarthritis Research Society International histopathology scoring system.Results: The within-run coefficients of variation (CV) for a single BCF measurement cycle were 12.2% and 12.7% in the ruptured and intact CrCL groups, respectively. The between-run CV for three measurement cycles was 20.8% and 14.8%, respectively. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC, absolute agreement) was 0.66 for a single measurement cycle and 0.86 for the average of three cycles.No difference in average BCF readings was found between any two sites in either group, but BCF readings in both CrCL sites were significantly higher in the ruptured CrCL group than the intact CrCL group. No associations between BCF and synovial grades or duration of lameness were identified.Conclusions: Laser Doppler flowmetry can be used to assess surface blood flow in intact and partially ruptured canine cruciate ligaments with acceptable precision. Using this method, surface blood flow appears greater in partially ruptured canine CrCL than intact CrCL. Further studies are required to determine if this is a sequela of trauma or synovitis.

New Methods to Evaluate Diesel Smoke from Inspection/Maintenance Vehicles Using Integration of Smoke Emissions over a Measurement Cycle of Snap-Acceleration Test at no Load

Each country regularly inspects smoke emissions from diesel vehicles. The most common method is a snap acceleration test at no load. Currently, the representative smoke value of a tested vehicle is decided by averaging three peak values which correspond to three consecutive measurement cycles. The biggest problem of the current method of determining the representative smoke of tested vehicles based on the averaging 3 consecutive peak values is that it varies enormously according to how the driver pushes the accelerator. In this study, new methods based on integration were researched to calculate representative smoke values from tested vehicles using the same data obtained by a snap acceleration test at no load. The smoke emissions for each measurement cycle were integrated with respect to time, and the average of the integrated values was obtained. Also, the smoke value of the acceleration range in each measurement cycle was integrated and the average was obtained. The representative value of smoke emissions was analyzed according to both the old and new calculation method. A total of 20 vehiclesof the same model with 2 liter diesel engineswere tested using snap acceleration at no load. It was found that the fluctuation of the representative smoke values of the tested vehicles was reduced when the average of the integrated values over either one measurement cycle or the acceleration range was used as the representative value.

High-Speed Tactile Sensing for Array-Type Tactile Sensor and Object Manipulation Based on Tactile Information

We have developed a universal robot hand with tactile and other sensors. An array-type tactile sensor is crucial for dexterous manipulation of objects using a robotic hand, since this sensor can measure the pressure distribution on finger pads. The sensor has a very high resolution, and the shape of a grasped object can be classified by using this sensor. The more the number of measurement points provided, the higher the accuracy of the classification, but with a corresponding lengthening of the measurement cycle. In this paper, the problem of slow response time is resolved by using software for an array-type tactile sensor with high resolution that emulates the human sensor system. The validity of the proposed method is demonstrated through experiments.