Sample loading and retrieval by centrifugation in a closed-loop PCR microchip

We report on a novel concept of sample loading for microfluidic devices using a benchtop centrifuge and a magnetically actuated circular closed-loop PCR microchip as a model system. The PCR mixture and the ferrofluid were loaded into a specially designed microchip. The microchip was then placed in an off-the-shelf 50-mL tube and centrifuged. The strong centrifugal force drives the PCR mixture and the ferrofluid into the microchannels of the microchip, and simultaneously expels any trapped microbubbles. PCR was successfully carried out on single and parallel closed-loop PCR microchips. The addition of a few off-chip handling steps allows great simplification of the device design. This new loading concept may be useful for designing robust and low-cost lab-on-a-chip devices because benchtop centrifuges are quite common in most laboratories.

Coverage Maximization with Autonomous Agents in Fast Flow Environments

This work examines the cooperative motion of a group of autonomous vehicles in a fast flow environment. The magnitude of the flow velocity is assumed to be greater than the available actuation to each agent. Collectively, the agents wish to maximize total coverage area defined as the set of points reachable by any agent within T time. The reachable set of an agent in a fast flow is characterized using optimal control techniques. Specifically, this work addresses the complementary cases where the static flow field is smooth, and where the flow field is piecewise constant. The latter case arises as a proposed approximation of a smooth flow that remains analytically tractable. Furthermore, the techniques used in the piecewise constant flow case enable treatment for obstacles in the environment. In both cases, a gradient ascent method is derived to maximize the total coverage area in a distributed fashion. Simulations show that such a network is able to maximize the coverage area in a fast flow.     

On Convergence of a Least-Squares Kansa's Method for the Modified Helmholtz Equations

We analyze a least-squares asymmetric radial basis function collocation method for solving the modified Helmholtz equations. In the theoretical part, we proved the convergence of the proposed method providing that the collocation points are sufficiently dense. For numerical verification, direct solver and a subspace selection process for the trial space (the so-called adaptive greedy algorithm) is employed, respectively, for small and large scale problems.     

Ring-opening polymerization of macrocyclic aryl ether ketone oligomers containing the 1,2-dibenzoylbenzene moiety

Facile ring-opening polymerization of cyclic aryl ether oligomers containing the 1,2-dibenzoylbenzene moiety to form high molecular weight linear polymers in the presence of a nucleophilic initiator is described. The polymerization can be initiated in the melt in the presence of a nucleophilic initiator such as potassium carbonate, cesium fluoride, and alkali phenoxides. Various alkali phenoxides were investigated as potential nucleophilic initiators. The polymerization reaction rate in the melt increases in the order of K⁺ > Na⁺ > Cs⁺, and in the order of ⁻OPhPhO⁻ > PhO⁻ > PhOPhO⁻ > PhPhO⁻. However, the polymerization in an aprotic dipolar solvent is faster in the presence of cesium phenoxide than in the presence of potassium phenoxide. Polymerization of the cyclic oligomers in solution demonstrates that the ring-opening polymerization proceeds via a chain-growth mechanism and involves a transetherification reaction between linear and cyclic aryl ether oligomers. The ring-chain equilibrium is much more favorable towards linear polymers. Since little or no ring strain exists in the cyclic system, the transetherification reactions are indiscriminate with regards to cyclic or linear chains and the interchain equilibration is also a facile process during polymerization. This intermolecular transetherification has been demonstrated by using low molecular weight aryl ethers to control the molecular weight of the polymer formed via ring-opening polymerization. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Strategies in boosting photosensitization for biomedical applications

Science China Chemistry -     

A falling body problem through the air in view of the fractional derivative approach

Recent studies have revealed that the fractional derivative can behave as a dissipative term. The analysis of a simple fractional oscillator has supported this point of view. However, other physical aspects related to fractional derivative are also important to be explored. For this purpose, in this work, we employ the fractional approach and guide ourselves by the above property to investigate the falling body problem. We show that the velocity of a falling body, in the fractional approach, can be greater (t<1) or less (t>1) than that velocity of free-fall obtained by the usual approach. Moreover, we show that the fractional derivative alone is not sufficient to attain a terminal speed. In order to provide a terminal speed into the fractional system a term, proportional to velocity, must be introduced.     

Effect of Heavy‐Atom (Br) at the Phenyl Rings of Schiff‐Base Ligands on the NIR Luminescence of their Bimetallic Zn‐Nd Complexes

Two heterobimetallic Zn‐Nd phenylene‐bridged Schiff‐base ligands complexes [ZnNd L¹ (Py)(NO₃)₃] ( 1 ) and [Zn L² Nd(Py)(NO₃)₃]·MeCN ( 2 ) (Py = pyridine, H₂L¹ = N,N′‐bis‐ (3‐methoxy‐salicylidene)phenylene‐1,2‐diamine, H₂L² = N,N′‐bis‐5‐bromo‐3‐methoxy‐salicylidene)phenylene‐1,2‐diamine) were obtained. Both 1 and 2 were structurally characterized by X‐ray crystallography, and their near‐infrared (NIR) luminescent properties were determined. For the two complexes, the occupation of pyridine at the axial position of 3d Zn²⁺ ions could effectively prevent luminescent quenching arising from OH‐, NH‐ or CH oscillators of the solvates around the 4f Nd³⁺ ions, and the heavy‐atom (Br) effect of the Schiff‐base ligands on their NIR luminescent properties is also discussed.     

Crystal structure of a non-stoichiometric channel inclusion complex of 1-benzyl-6-phenylpiperidin-2-one-5-carboxylic acid with acetonitrile

C₁₉H₁₉NO₃·x CH₃CN (x=0.3),M _r=643.35, hexagonal, space groupP6₁ (No. 169),a=23.027(5),c=5.775(1) Å,V=2652(1) ų,Z=6. The structure was solved by direct methods and refined toR=0.077 for 1562 observed MoK reflections. The title heterocyclic carboxylic acid was established as thetrans isomer, with the phenyl and carboxyl substituents occupying pseudo-equatorial and equatorial positions, respectively, of the piperidin-2-one ring in a half-chair conformation. Acid host molecules related by the 6₁ screw operation are linked by intermolecular O–H...O (cyclic amide) hydrogen bonds to generate an open channel bounded by coaxial intertwined helices each having a pitch of 5c. Within each channel of free diameterca. 6.0 Å the acetonitrile molecules partially occupy highly disordered sites which do not lie on thec axis. Supplementary Data relating to this article are deposited with the British Library as Supplementary Publication No. SUP 82067 (13 pages).