Recent advancement on chromo-fluorogenic sensing of aluminum(III) with Schiff bases

The consumption of non-essential aluminum ion (Al³⁺) at higher concentration from biotic and abiotic sources can cause serious adverse effects to the human body. Therefore, there is bourgeoning need of developing facile analytical methods for the on-site and real-time monitoring of Al³⁺ concentration in various environmental and biological samples. The chromo-fluorogenic based sensors have been widely developed in the recent years to detect and monitor Al³⁺ ion. Among the various types of developed chemical sensors, the Schiff bases proved to have several advantages due to their facile synthesis with high yield, fascinating coordination behavior and easy structural modification. This review was narrated to compile the Schiff bases introduced recently for the sensing of Al³⁺ in various environmental and biological samples. The designing of sensor, sensing mechanisms and other analytical novelties of the developed sensors are discussed.     

Constructing novel red-emitting Ba2Y0.8Eu0.2NbO6:Mn4+ phosphors for multi-type luminescent thermometers and high-security anti-counterfeiting films

To date, luminescent materials have been preferably used for non-contact optical thermometers. In this manner, novel red-emitting Ba₂Y_0.8Eu_0.2NbO₆:Mn⁴⁺ (BYEN:Mn⁴⁺) phosphors were designed for multi-type non-contact luminescent thermometers based on the dual-emission states and temperature-dependent lifetime (TDL) models. In the temperature range of 303–483 K, the sensing sensitivities based on the dual-emission states of (⁵D₀→⁷F₂, ²E_g→⁴A_2g) and (⁵D₀→⁷F₁, ²E_g→⁴A_2g) were estimated. Especially, the maximum absolute sensing sensitivity (S_a) was found to be about 0.1558 K^-1 for the BYEN:0.007Mn⁴⁺ phosphor based on the ⁵D₀→⁷F₁ and ²E_g→⁴A_2g positions. This phosphor also exhibited good relative sensing sensitivity (S_r) (0.0186 K^-1) based on the ⁵D₀→⁷F₂ and ²E_g→⁴A_2g states. Besides, the relative sensing sensitivities (S_R) at ⁵D₀→⁷F₁ and ²E_g→⁴A_2g transitions were estimated to be 0.0034 and 0.0194 K^-1, respectively with the help of the TDL technique. In the light of these results, novel red-emitting Ba₂Y_0.8Eu_0.2NbO₆:Mn⁴⁺ phosphors are expected to be a potentially attractive candidate for applications in multi-type luminescent thermometers. Finally, a novel unique polydimethylsiloxane film exhibiting tricolor-luminescent emissions was introduced and further suggested for high-security anti-counterfeiting.     

Dispersion measurements using time-of-flight remote detection MRI

Remote detection nuclear magnetic resonance and magnetic resonance imaging can be used to study fluid flow and dispersion in a porous medium from a purely Eulerian point of view (i.e., in a laboratory frame of reference). Information about fluid displacement is obtained on a macroscopic scale in a long-time regime, while local velocity distributions are averaged out. It is shown how these experiments can be described using the common flow propagator formalism and how experimental data can be analyzed to obtain effective porosity, flow velocity inside the porous medium, fluid dispersion and flow tracing of fluid.     

基于无线通讯的水源井RTU设计

为了满足远程监控水源井的要求,选用RTU来实现远程监控.设计了RTU的基本硬件电路,采用MAX706芯片组成的电路作为系统的复位电路,利用无线通讯组网方式实现远程监控和数据传输,并设计了防止电台长发射电路.结果表明,采用无线电台组成的网络可以很好地实现水源井的远程监控.同时,设计的防止电台长发射电路解决了以往存在的电台长发射问题,RTU在保证运行的稳定性基础上,降低了成本,但对该系统功能的拓扑仍需进一步探讨.     

Sensing nanomaterials of wearable glucose sensors

The metabolic disorder of glucose in human body will cause diseases such as diabetes and hyperglycemia.Hence the determination of glucose content is very important in clinic diagnosing.In recent years,researchers have proposed various non-invasive wearable sensors for rapid and real-time glucose monitoring from human body fluids.Unlike those reviews which discussed performances,detection environments or substrates of the wearable glucose sensor,this review focuses on the sensing nanomaterials since they are the key elements of most wearable glucose sensors.The sensing nanomaterials such as carbon,metals,and conductive polymers are summarized in detail.And also the structural characteristics of different sensing nanomaterials and the corresponding wearable glucose sensors are highlighted.Finally,we prospect the future development requirements of sensing nanomaterials for wearable glucose sensors.This review would give some insights to the further development of wearable glucose sensors and the modern medical treatment.     

基于LabVIEW和Arduino的远程监控系统设计与实现

针对现场采集数据实时远程监控的要求,根据LabVIEW强大的功能模块和Arduino灵活易用的开发特点,提出以Arduino为控制器,采用Arduino软件与LabVIEW软件交互编程的设计思想。为解决LabVIEW在本地服务器Web发布的局限性,同时简化系统的硬件设计,增加使用的灵活性,使用云计算作为服务器,设计实现了一种基于LabVIEW和Arduino的无线串口采控和实时同步Web发布的系统。测试结果表明,该系统界面友好,运行可靠,可扩展性很强,可以在整个互联网上通过网页建立Web请求。     

基于扩展DALI总线的智能照明系统设计

针对大型商业照明场合存在的如组网不便、照明效果单一,能源利用率底的问题,设计了一套基于扩展DALI总线的商业智能照明系统,以实现系统的大面积组网和集中控制,获得丰富的照明效果,实现系统的绿色环保运行。测试系统搭建完成后,实现了管理人员对系统的集中管理和远程监控;系统可按照工作日程表、时间表自动运行;具有分区、分组、单灯、场景等多种控制方式,控制灵活,能达到较好的照明效果和节能要求,可满足多种商业照明需求。     

Synthesis and in-situ noble metal modification of WO3·0.33H2O nanorods from a tungsten-containing mineral for enhancing NH3 sensing performance

Ag- and Pt-doped WO₃·0.33H₂O nanorods with high response and selectivity to NH₃ were synthesized from a tungsten-containing mineral of scheelite concentrate by a simple combined process, namely by a high pressure leaching method to obtain tungstate ions-containing leaching solution and followed by a hydrothermal method to prepare corresponding nanorods. The microstructure and NH₃ sensing performance of the final products were investigated systematically. The microstructure characterization showed that the as-prepared WO₃·0.33H₂O nanorods had a hexagonal crystal structure, and Ag and Pt nanoparticles were uniformly distributed in the WO₃·0.33H₂O nanorods. Gas sensing measurements indicated that Ag and Pt nanoparticles not only could obviously enhance NH₃ sensing properties in terms of response, selectivity as well as response/recovery time, but also could reduce the optimal operating temperature at which the highest response was achieved. The highest responses of 22.4 and 47.6 for Ag- and Pt-doped WO₃·0.33H₂O nanorods to 1000 ppm NH₃ were obtained at 225 and 175 °C, respectively, which were about four and eight folds higher than that of pure one at 250 °C. The superior NH₃ sensing properties are mainly ascribed to the catalytic activities of noble metals and the different work functions between noble metals and WO₃·0.33H₂O.     

Progress in hydrogels for sensing applications: a review

There are several developments taking place in the field of sensors driven by the world today requirements. One of the most important novelties of the last two decades in the field is represented by the hydrogel-based sensors which constitute a wide family of innovative smart sensing devices relevant for many different applications. Hydrogels in fact are hydrophilic, biocompatible and highly water swellable polymer networks able to convert chemical energy into mechanical energy, with the great peculiarity to be able to respond to external stimuli. These characteristics have ensured them considerable recognition as valuable tool for smart sensing and diagnostics. The aim of this review is to focus on the advances obtained in the field in the last ten years.     

Resilient and agile engineering solutions to address societal challenges such as coronavirus pandemic

The world is witnessing tumultuous times as major economic powers including the US, UK, Russia, India, and most of Europe continue to be in a state of lockdown. The worst-hit sectors due to this lockdown are sales, production (manufacturing), transport (aerospace and automotive) and tourism. Lockdowns became necessary as a preventive measure to avoid the spread of the contagious and infectious “Coronavirus Disease 2019” (COVID-19). This newly identified disease is caused by a new strain of the virus being referred to as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome CoronaVirus 2 (SARS CoV-2; formerly called 2019-nCoV). We review the current medical and manufacturing response to COVID-19, including advances in instrumentation, sensing, use of lasers, fumigation chambers and development of novel tools such as lab-on-the-chip using combinatorial additive and subtractive manufacturing techniques and use of molecular modelling and molecular docking in drug and vaccine discovery. We also offer perspectives on future considerations on climate change, outsourced versus indigenous manufacturing, automation, and antimicrobial resistance. Overall, this paper attempts to identify key areas where manufacturing can be employed to address societal challenges such as COVID-19.