Sample records for complex impedance analysis

  1. Complex numbers in chemometrics: examples from multivariate impedance measurements on lipid monolayers.

    PubMed

    Geladi, Paul; Nelson, Andrew; Lindholm-Sethson, Britta

    2007-07-09

    Electrical impedance gives multivariate complex number data as results. Two examples of multivariate electrical impedance data measured on lipid monolayers in different solutions give rise to matrices (16x50 and 38x50) of complex numbers. Multivariate data analysis by principal component analysis (PCA) or singular value decomposition (SVD) can be used for complex data and the necessary equations are given. The scores and loadings obtained are vectors of complex numbers. It is shown that the complex number PCA and SVD are better at concentrating information in a few components than the naïve juxtaposition method and that Argand diagrams can replace score and loading plots. Different concentrations of Magainin and Gramicidin A give different responses and also the role of the electrolyte medium can be studied. An interaction of Gramicidin A in the solution with the monolayer over time can be observed.

  2. Evaluation of a cost-effective loads approach. [shock spectra/impedance method for Viking Orbiter

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Garba, J. A.; Wada, B. K.; Bamford, R.; Trubert, M. R.

    1976-01-01

    A shock spectra/impedance method for loads predictions is used to estimate member loads for the Viking Orbiter, a 7800-lb interplanetary spacecraft that has been designed using transient loads analysis techniques. The transient loads analysis approach leads to a lightweight structure but requires complex and costly analyses. To reduce complexity and cost, a shock spectra/impedance method is currently being used to design the Mariner Jupiter Saturn spacecraft. This method has the advantage of using low-cost in-house loads analysis techniques and typically results in more conservative structural loads. The method is evaluated by comparing the increase in Viking member loads to the loads obtained by the transient loads analysis approach. An estimate of the weight penalty incurred by using this method is presented. The paper also compares the calculated flight loads from the transient loads analyses and the shock spectra/impedance method to measured flight data.

  3. Impedance Spectroscopy Analysis of Mg4Nb2O9 Ceramics with Different Additions of V2O5 for Microwave and Radio Frequency Applications

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Filho, J. M. S.; Rodrigues Junior, C. A.; Sousa, D. G.; Oliveira, R. G. M.; Costa, M. M.; Barroso, G. C.; Sombra, A. S. B.

    2017-07-01

    The complex impedance spectroscopy study of magnesium niobate Mg4Nb2O9 (MN) ceramics with different additions of V2O5 (0%, 2%, 5%) was performed in this present paper. The preparation of MN samples were carried out by using the solid-state reaction method with a high-energy milling machine. Frequency and temperature dependence of the complex impedance, complex modulus analysis, and conductivity were measured and calculated at different temperatures by using a network impedance analyzer. A non-Debye type relaxation was observed showing a decentralization of the semicircles. Cole-Cole formalism was adopted here with the help of a computer program used to fit the experimental data. A typical universal dielectric response in the frequency-dependent conductivity at different temperatures was found. The frequency dependent ac conductivity at different temperatures indicates that the conduction process is thermally activated. The activation energy was obtained from the Arrhenius fitting by using conductivity and electrical modules data. The results would help to understand deeply the relaxation process in these types of materials.

  4. Evaluation of a cost-effective loads approach. [for Viking Orbiter light weight structural design

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Garba, J. A.; Wada, B. K.; Bamford, R.; Trubert, M. R.

    1976-01-01

    A shock spectra/impedance method for loads prediction is used to estimate member loads for the Viking Orbiter, a 7800-lb interplanetary spacecraft that has been designed using transient loads analysis techniques. The transient loads analysis approach leads to a lightweight structure but requires complex and costly analyses. To reduce complexity and cost a shock spectra/impedance method is currently being used to design the Mariner Jupiter Saturn spacecraft. This method has the advantage of using low-cost in-house loads analysis techniques and typically results in more conservative structural loads. The method is evaluated by comparing the increase in Viking member loads to the loads obtained by the transient loads analysis approach. An estimate of the weight penalty incurred by using this method is presented. The paper also compares the calculated flight loads from the transient loads analyses and the shock spectra/impedance method to measured flight data.

  5. Time-domain representation of frequency-dependent foundation impedance functions

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Safak, E.

    2006-01-01

    Foundation impedance functions provide a simple means to account for soil-structure interaction (SSI) when studying seismic response of structures. Impedance functions represent the dynamic stiffness of the soil media surrounding the foundation. The fact that impedance functions are frequency dependent makes it difficult to incorporate SSI in standard time-history analysis software. This paper introduces a simple method to convert frequency-dependent impedance functions into time-domain filters. The method is based on the least-squares approximation of impedance functions by ratios of two complex polynomials. Such ratios are equivalent, in the time-domain, to discrete-time recursive filters, which are simple finite-difference equations giving the relationship between foundation forces and displacements. These filters can easily be incorporated into standard time-history analysis programs. Three examples are presented to show the applications of the method.

  6. Bioelectrical Impedance Methods for Noninvasive Health Monitoring: A Review

    PubMed Central

    Bera, Tushar Kanti

    2014-01-01

    Under the alternating electrical excitation, biological tissues produce a complex electrical impedance which depends on tissue composition, structures, health status, and applied signal frequency, and hence the bioelectrical impedance methods can be utilized for noninvasive tissue characterization. As the impedance responses of these tissue parameters vary with frequencies of the applied signal, the impedance analysis conducted over a wide frequency band provides more information about the tissue interiors which help us to better understand the biological tissues anatomy, physiology, and pathology. Over past few decades, a number of impedance based noninvasive tissue characterization techniques such as bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), electrical impedance plethysmography (IPG), impedance cardiography (ICG), and electrical impedance tomography (EIT) have been proposed and a lot of research works have been conducted on these methods for noninvasive tissue characterization and disease diagnosis. In this paper BIA, EIS, IPG, ICG, and EIT techniques and their applications in different fields have been reviewed and technical perspective of these impedance methods has been presented. The working principles, applications, merits, and demerits of these methods has been discussed in detail along with their other technical issues followed by present status and future trends. PMID:27006932

  7. Impedance spectroscopy and electric modulus behavior of Molybdenum doped Cobalt-Zinc ferrite

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Pradhan, A. K.; Nath, T. K.; Saha, S.

    2017-07-01

    The complex impedance spectroscopy and the electric modulus of Mo doped Cobalt-Zinc inverse spinel ferrite has been investigated in detail. The conventional ceramic technique has been used to prepare the CZMO. The HRXRD technique has been used to study the structural analysis which confirms the inverse spinel structure of the material and also suggest the material have Fd3m space group. The complex impedance spectroscopic data and the electric modulus formalism have been used to understand the dielectric relaxation and conduction process. The contribution of grain and grain boundary in the electrical conduction process of CZMO has been confirmed from the Cole-Cole plot. The activation energy is calculated from both the IS (Impedance Spectroscopy) and electric modulus formalism and found to be nearly same for the materials.

  8. Time-Domain Impedance Boundary Conditions for Computational Aeroacoustics

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Tam, Christopher K. W.; Auriault, Laurent

    1996-01-01

    It is an accepted practice in aeroacoustics to characterize the properties of an acoustically treated surface by a quantity known as impedance. Impedance is a complex quantity. As such, it is designed primarily for frequency-domain analysis. Time-domain boundary conditions that are the equivalent of the frequency-domain impedance boundary condition are proposed. Both single frequency and model broadband time-domain impedance boundary conditions are provided. It is shown that the proposed boundary conditions, together with the linearized Euler equations, form well-posed initial boundary value problems. Unlike ill-posed problems, they are free from spurious instabilities that would render time-marching computational solutions impossible.

  9. A systematic uncertainty analysis for liner impedance eduction technology

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zhou, Lin; Bodén, Hans

    2015-11-01

    The so-called impedance eduction technology is widely used for obtaining acoustic properties of liners used in aircraft engines. The measurement uncertainties for this technology are still not well understood though it is essential for data quality assessment and model validation. A systematic framework based on multivariate analysis is presented in this paper to provide 95 percent confidence interval uncertainty estimates in the process of impedance eduction. The analysis is made using a single mode straightforward method based on transmission coefficients involving the classic Ingard-Myers boundary condition. The multivariate technique makes it possible to obtain an uncertainty analysis for the possibly correlated real and imaginary parts of the complex quantities. The results show that the errors in impedance results at low frequency mainly depend on the variability of transmission coefficients, while the mean Mach number accuracy is the most important source of error at high frequencies. The effect of Mach numbers used in the wave dispersion equation and in the Ingard-Myers boundary condition has been separated for comparison of the outcome of impedance eduction. A local Mach number based on friction velocity is suggested as a way to reduce the inconsistencies found when estimating impedance using upstream and downstream acoustic excitation.

  10. Analysis of x-ray diffraction pattern and complex plane impedance plot of polypyrrole/titanium dioxide nanocomposite: A simulation study

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ravikiran, Y. T.; Vijaya Kumari, S. C.

    2013-06-01

    To innovate the properties of Polypyrrole/Titanium dioxide (PPy/TiO2) nanocomposite further, it has been synthesized by chemical polymerization technique. The nanostructure and monoclinic phase of the prepared composite have been confirmed by simulating the X-ray diffraction pattern (XRD). Also, complex plane impedance plot of the composite has been simulated to find equivalent resistance capacitance circuit (RC circuit) and numerical values of R and C have been predicted.

  11. Study of the dopamine effect into cell solutions by impedance analysis

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Paivana, G.; Apostolou, T.; Kaltsas, G.; Kintzios, S.

    2017-11-01

    Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) has become a technique that is frequently used for biological assays. Impedance is defined as a complex - valued generalization of resistance and varies depending on its use per application field. In health sciences, bioimpedance is widely used as non-invasive and low cost alternative in many medical areas that provides valuable information about health status. This work focuses on assessing the effects of a bioactive substance applied to immobilized cells. Dopamine was used as a stimulant in order to implement impedance analysis with a specific type of cells. Dopamine constitutes one of the most important catecholamine neurotransmitters in both the mammalian central and peripheral nervous systems. The main purpose is to extract calibration curves at different frequencies with known dopamine concentrations in order to describe the behavior of cells applied to dopamine using an impedance measurement device. For comparison purposes, non-immobilized cells were tested for the same dopamine concentrations.

  12. Fast and sensitive detection of foodborne pathogen using electrochemical impedance analysis, urease catalysis and microfluidics.

    PubMed

    Chen, Qi; Wang, Dan; Cai, Gaozhe; Xiong, Yonghua; Li, Yuntao; Wang, Maohua; Huo, Huiling; Lin, Jianhan

    2016-12-15

    Early screening of pathogenic bacteria is a key to prevent and control of foodborne diseases. In this study, we developed a fast and sensitive bacteria detection method integrating electrochemical impedance analysis, urease catalysis with microfluidics and using Listeria as model. The Listeria cells, the anti-Listeria monoclonal antibodies modified magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs), and the anti-Listeria polyclonal antibodies and urease modified gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were incubated in a fluidic separation chip with active mixing to form the MNP-Listeria-AuNP-urease sandwich complexes. The complexes were captured in the separation chip by applying a high gradient magnetic field, and the urea was injected to resuspend the complexes and hydrolyzed under the catalysis of the urease on the complexes into ammonium ions and carbonate ions, which were transported into a microfluidic detection chip with an interdigitated microelectrode for impedance measurement to determine the amount of the Listeria cells. The capture efficiency of the Listeria cells in the separation chip was ∼93% with a shorter time of 30min due to the faster immuno-reaction using the active magnetic mixing. The changes on both impedance magnitude and phase angle were demonstrated to be able to detect the Listeria cells as low as 1.6×10(2)CFU/mL. The detection time was reduced from original ∼2h to current ∼1h. The recoveries of the spiked lettuce samples ranged from 82.1% to 89.6%, indicating the applicability of this proposed biosensor. This microfluidic impedance biosensor has shown the potential for online, automatic and sensitive bacteria separation and detection. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  13. Point source moving above a finite impedance reflecting plane - Experiment and theory

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Norum, T. D.; Liu, C. H.

    1978-01-01

    A widely used experimental version of the acoustic monopole consists of an acoustic driver of restricted opening forced by a discrete frequency oscillator. To investigate the effects of forward motion on this source, it was mounted above an automobile and driven over an asphalt surface at constant speed past a microphone array. The shapes of the received signal were compared to results computed from an analysis of a fluctuating-mass-type point source moving above a finite impedance reflecting plane. Good agreement was found between experiment and theory when a complex normal impedance representative of a fairly hard acoustic surface was used in the analysis.

  14. Analysis of the Impedance Resonance of Piezoelectric Multi-Fiber Composite Stacks

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Sherrit, S.; Djrbashian, A.; Bradford, S C

    2013-01-01

    Multi-Fiber CompositesTM (MFC's) produced by Smart Materials Corp behave essentially like thin planar stacks where each piezoelectric layer is composed of a multitude of fibers. We investigate the suitability of using previously published inversion techniques for the impedance resonances of monolithic co-fired piezoelectric stacks to the MFCTM to determine the complex material constants from the impedance data. The impedance equations examined in this paper are those based on the derivation. The utility of resonance techniques to invert the impedance data to determine the small signal complex material constants are presented for a series of MFC's. The technique was applied to actuators with different geometries and the real coefficients were determined to be similar within changes of the boundary conditions due to change of geometry. The scatter in the imaginary coefficient was found to be larger. The technique was also applied to the same actuator type but manufactured in different batches with some design changes in the non active portion of the actuator and differences in the dielectric and the electromechanical coupling between the two batches were easily measureable. It is interesting to note that strain predicted by small signal impedance analysis is much lower than high field stains. Since the model is based on material properties rather than circuit constants, it could be used for the direct evaluation of specific aging or degradation mechanisms in the actuator as well as batch sorting and adjustment of manufacturing processes.

  15. Identification of fluids and an interface between fluids by measuring complex impedance

    DOEpatents

    Lee, David O.; Wayland, Jr., James R.

    1989-01-01

    Complex impedance measured over a predefined frequency range is used to determine the identity of different oils in a column. The location of an interface between the oils is determined from the percent frequency effects of the complex impedance measured across the interface.

  16. Wavelet transformation to determine impedance spectra of lithium-ion rechargeable battery

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hoshi, Yoshinao; Yakabe, Natsuki; Isobe, Koichiro; Saito, Toshiki; Shitanda, Isao; Itagaki, Masayuki

    2016-05-01

    A new analytical method is proposed to determine the electrochemical impedance of lithium-ion rechargeable batteries (LIRB) from time domain data by wavelet transformation (WT). The WT is a waveform analysis method that can transform data in the time domain to the frequency domain while retaining time information. In this transformation, the frequency domain data are obtained by the convolution integral of a mother wavelet and original time domain data. A complex Morlet mother wavelet (CMMW) is used to obtain the complex number data in the frequency domain. The CMMW is expressed by combining a Gaussian function and sinusoidal term. The theory to select a set of suitable conditions for variables and constants related to the CMMW, i.e., band, scale, and time parameters, is established by determining impedance spectra from wavelet coefficients using input voltage to the equivalent circuit and the output current. The impedance spectrum of LIRB determined by WT agrees well with that measured using a frequency response analyzer.

  17. Identification of fluids and an interface between fluids by measuring complex impedance

    DOEpatents

    Lee, D.O.; Wayland, J.R. Jr.

    1989-12-05

    Complex impedance measured over a predefined frequency range is used to determine the identity of different oils in a column. The location of an interface between the oils is determined from the percent frequency effects of the complex impedance measured across the interface. 5 figs.

  18. Electromagnetic scattering by impedance structures

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Balanis, Constantine A.; Griesser, Timothy

    1987-01-01

    The scattering of electromagnetic waves from impedance structures is investigated, and current work on antenna pattern calculation is presented. A general algorithm for determining radiation patterns from antennas mounted near or on polygonal plates is presented. These plates are assumed to be of a material which satisfies the Leontovich (or surface impedance) boundary condition. Calculated patterns including reflection and diffraction terms are presented for numerious geometries, and refinements are included for antennas mounted directly on impedance surfaces. For the case of a monopole mounted on a surface impedance ground plane, computed patterns are compared with experimental measurements. This work in antenna pattern prediction forms the basis of understanding of the complex scattering mechanisms from impedance surfaces. It provides the foundation for the analysis of backscattering patterns which, in general, are more problematic than calculation of antenna patterns. Further proposed study of related topics, including surface waves, corner diffractions, and multiple diffractions, is outlined.

  19. Step voltage analysis for the catenoid lightning protection system

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Chai, J. C.; Briet, R.; Barker, D. L.; Eley, H. E.

    1991-01-01

    The main objective of the proposed overhead Catenoid Lightning Protection System (CLPS) is personnel safety. To ensure working personnel's safety in lightning situations, it is necessary that the potential difference developed across a distance equal to a person's pace (step voltage) does not exceed a separately established safe voltage in order to avoid electrocution (ventricular fibrillation) of humans. Therefore, the first stage of the analytical effort is to calculate the open circuit step voltage. An impedance model is developed for this purpose. It takes into consideration the earth's complex impedance behavior and the transient nature of the lightning phenomenon. In the low frequency limit, this impedance model is shown to reduce to results similar to those predicted by the conventional resistor model in a DC analysis.

  20. Complex Impedance of Fast Optical Transition Edge Sensors up to 30 MHz

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hattori, K.; Kobayashi, R.; Numata, T.; Inoue, S.; Fukuda, D.

    2018-03-01

    Optical transition edge sensors (TESs) are characterized by a very fast response, of the order of μs, which is 10^3 times faster than TESs for X-ray and gamma-ray. To extract important parameters associated with the optical TES, complex impedances at high frequencies (> 1 MHz) need to be measured, where the parasitic impedance in the circuit and reflections of electrical signals due to discontinuities in the characteristic impedance of the readout circuits become significant. This prevents the measurements of the current sensitivity β , which can be extracted from the complex impedance. In usual setups, it is hard to build a circuit model taking into account the parasitic impedances and reflections. In this study, we present an alternative method to estimate a transfer function without investigating the details of the entire circuit. Based on this method, the complex impedance up to 30 MHz was measured. The parameters were extracted from the impedance and were compared with other measurements. Using these parameters, we calculated the theoretical limit on an energy resolution and compared it with the measured energy resolution. In this paper, the reasons for the deviation of the measured value from theoretically predicted values will be discussed.

  1. Rheoencephalographic (REG) Assessment of Head and Neck Cooling for use with Multiple Sclerosis Patients

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Montogomery, Leslie D.; Ku, Yu-Tsuan E.; Webbon, Bruce W. (Technical Monitor)

    1995-01-01

    We have prepared a computer program (RHEOSYS:RHEOencephalographic impedance trace scanning SyStem) that can be used to automate the analysis of segmental impedance blood flow waveforms. This program was developed to assist in the post test analysis of recorded impedance traces from multiple segments of the body. It incorporates many of the blood flow, segmental volume, and vascular state indices reported in the world literature. As it is currently programmed, seven points are selected from each blood flow pulse and associated ECG waveforrn: 1. peak of the first ECG QRS complex, 2. start of systolic slope on the blood flow trace, 3. maximum amplitude of the impedance pulse, 4. position of the dicrotic notch, 5. maximum amplitude of the postdicrotic segment, 6. peak of the second ECG QRS complex, and 7. start of the next blood flow pulse. These points we used to calculate various geometric, area, and time-related values associated with the impedance pulse morphology. RHEOSYS then calculates a series of 34 impedance and cardiac cycle parameters which include pulse amplitudes; areas; pulse propagation times; cardiac cycle times; and various measures of arterial and various tone, contractility, and pulse volume. We used this program to calculate the scalp and intracranial blood flow responses to head and neck cooling as it may be applied to lower the body temperatures of multiple sclerosis patients. Twelve women and twelve men were tested using a commercially available head and neck cooling system operated at its maximum cooling capacity for a period of 30 minutes. Head and neck cooling produced a transient change in scalp blood flow and a significant, (P<0.05) decrease of approx. 30% in intracranial blood flow. Results of this experiment will illustrate how REG and RHEOSYS can be used in biomedical applications.

  2. A simple formula for the effective complex conductivity of periodic fibrous composites with interfacial impedance and applications to biological tissues

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Bisegna, Paolo; Caselli, Federica

    2008-06-01

    This paper presents a simple analytical expression for the effective complex conductivity of a periodic hexagonal arrangement of conductive circular cylinders embedded in a conductive matrix, with interfaces exhibiting a capacitive impedance. This composite material may be regarded as an idealized model of a biological tissue comprising tubular cells, such as skeletal muscle. The asymptotic homogenization method is adopted, and the corresponding local problem is solved by resorting to Weierstrass elliptic functions. The effectiveness of the present analytical result is proved by convergence analysis and comparison with finite-element solutions and existing models.

  3. ac Modeling and impedance spectrum tests of the superconducting magnetic field coils for the Wendelstein 7-X fusion experiment.

    PubMed

    Ehmler, Hartmut; Köppen, Matthias

    2007-10-01

    The impedance spectrum test was employed for detection of short circuits within Wendelstein 7-X (W7-X) superconducting magnetic field coils. This test is based on measuring the complex impedance over several decades of frequency. The results are compared to predictions of appropriate electrical equivalent circuits of coils in different production states or during cold test. When the equivalent circuit is not too complicated the impedance can be represented by an analytic function. A more detailed analysis is performed with a network simulation code. The overall agreement of measured and calculated or simulated spectra is good. Two types of short circuits which appeared are presented and analyzed. The detection limit of the method is discussed. It is concluded that combined high-voltage ac and low-voltage impedance spectrum tests are ideal means to rule out short circuits in the W7-X coils.

  4. Self-healing bolted joint employing a shape memory actuator

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Muntges, Daniel E.; Park, Gyuhae; Inman, Daniel J.

    2001-08-01

    This paper is a report of an initial investigation into the active control of preload in the joint using a shape memory actuator around the axis of the bolt shaft. Specifically, the actuator is a cylindrical Nitinol washer that expands axially when heated, according to the shape memory effect. The washer is actuated in response to an artificial decrease in torque. Upon actuation, the stress generated by its axial strain compresses the bolted members and creates a frictional force that has the effect of generating a preload and restoring lost torque. In addition to torque wrenches, the system in question was monitored in all stages of testing using piezoelectric impedance analysis. Impedance analysis drew upon research techniques developed at Center for Intelligent Material Systems and Structures, in which phase changes in the impedance of a self-sensing piezoceramic actuator correspond to changes in joint stiffness. Through experimentation, we have documented a successful actuation of the shape memory element. Due to complexity of constitutive modeling, qualitative analysis by the impedance method is used to illustrate the success. Additional considerations encountered in this initial investigation are made to guide further thorough research required for the successful commercial application of this promising technique.

  5. Development and Validation of an Interactive Liner Design and Impedance Modeling Tool

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Howerton, Brian M.; Jones, Michael G.; Buckley, James L.

    2012-01-01

    The Interactive Liner Impedance Analysis and Design (ILIAD) tool is a LabVIEW-based software package used to design the composite surface impedance of a series of small-diameter quarter-wavelength resonators incorporating variable depth and sharp bends. Such structures are useful for packaging broadband acoustic liners into constrained spaces for turbofan engine noise control applications. ILIAD s graphical user interface allows the acoustic channel geometry to be drawn in the liner volume while the surface impedance and absorption coefficient calculations are updated in real-time. A one-dimensional transmission line model serves as the basis for the impedance calculation and can be applied to many liner configurations. Experimentally, tonal and broadband acoustic data were acquired in the NASA Langley Normal Incidence Tube over the frequency range of 500 to 3000 Hz at 120 and 140 dB SPL. Normalized impedance spectra were measured using the Two-Microphone Method for the various combinations of channel configurations. Comparisons between the computed and measured impedances show excellent agreement for broadband liners comprised of multiple, variable-depth channels. The software can be used to design arrays of resonators that can be packaged into complex geometries heretofore unsuitable for effective acoustic treatment.

  6. Variable electrical properties in composites: Application to vanadium dioxide pigments in a polyethylene host

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Alfred-Duplan, C.; Musso, J.; Gavarri, J.R.

    1994-05-01

    Composite pellets were prepared from low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and vanadium dioxide powders. The VO[sub 2] pigments are used for their insulating-to-metallic transition at 341 K in order to obtain electrically variable composite materials. The volume fractions of VO[sub 2] powders vary from [phi] = 0 to [phi] = 0.55. The composite samples are characterized by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. Complex impedance analysis in the frequency range 10[sup [minus]1] to 10[sup 6]. Hz is carried out at room temperature and at T = 363 K, to observe the insulator-metal transition of VO[sub 2] pigments dispersed in the polymer host.more » The variation of the complex impedance modulus [vert bar]Z[vert bar] with frequency and with VO[sub 2] volume fraction ([phi]) is discussed. A specific (R, C) impedance model permits interpretation of the experimental results in terms of percolation; the observed variations can be accounted for.« less

  7. Bioelectrical Impedance and The Frequency Dependent Current Conduction Through Biological Tissues: A Short Review

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kanti Bera, Tushar

    2018-03-01

    Biological tissues are developed with biological cells which exhibit complex electrical impedance called electrical bioimpedance. Under an alternating electrical excitation the bioimpedance varies with the tissue anatomy, composition and the signal frequency. The current penetration and conduction paths vary with frequency of the applied signal. Bioimpedance spectroscopy is used to study the frequency response of the electrical impedance of biological materials noninvasively. In bioimpedance spectroscopy, a low amplitude electrical signal is injected to the tissue sample or body parts to characterization the sample in terms of its bioimpedance. The electrical current conduction phenomena, which is highly influenced by the tissue impedance and the signal frequency, is an important phenomena which should be studied to understand the bioimpedance techniques like bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), EIS, or else. In this paper the origin of bioelectrical impedance and current conduction phenomena has been reviewed to present a brief summary of bioelectrical impedance and the frequency dependent current conduction through biological tissues. Simulation studies are conducted with alternation current injection through a two dimensional model of biological tissues containing finite number of biological cells suspended in extracellular fluid. The paper demonstrates the simulation of alternating current conduction through biological tissues conducted by COMSOL Multiphysics. Simulation studies also show the frequency response of the tissue impedance for different tissue compositions.

  8. Impedance analysis of a disk-type SOFC using doped lanthanum gallate under power generation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kato, Tohru; Nozaki, Ken; Negishi, Akira; Kato, Ken; Monma, Akihiko; Kaga, Yasuo; Nagata, Susumu; Takano, Kiyonami; Inagaki, Toru; Yoshida, Hiroyuki; Hosoi, Kei; Hoshino, Koji; Akbay, Taner; Akikusa, Jun

    Impedance measurements were carried out under practical power generation conditions in a disk-type SOFC, which may be utilized as a small-scale power generator. The tested cell was composed of doped lanthanum gallate (La 0.8Sr 0.2Ga 0.8Mg 0.15Co 0.05O 3- δ) as the electrolyte, Sm 0.5Sr 0.5CoO 3 as the cathode electrode and Ni/Ce 0.8Sm 0.2O 2 cermet as the anode electrode. The cell impedance was measured between 10 mHz and 10 kHz by varying the fuel utilization and gas flow rate and plotted in complex impedance diagrams. The observed impedance shows a large semi-circular pattern on the low frequency side. The semi-circular impedance, having a noticeably low characteristic frequency between 0.13 and 0.4 Hz, comes from the change in gas composition, originally caused by the cell reaction. The change in impedance with the fuel utilization (load current) and the gas flow rate agreed qualitatively well with the theoretical predictions from a simulation. This impedance was dominant under high fuel-utilization power-generation conditions. The impedance, which described the activation polarizations in the electrode reactions, was comparatively small and scarcely changed with the change in fuel utilization (load current) and gas flow rate.

  9. Electrical properties of Ba(Dy{sub 1/2}Nb{sub 1/2})O{sub 3} ceramic

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Nath, K. Amar, E-mail: karn190@gmail.com; Chandra, K. P., E-mail: kpchandra23@gmail.com; Dubey, K., E-mail: kirandubey45@yahoo.com

    2016-05-06

    Polycrystalline Ba(Dy{sub 1/2}Nb{sub 1/2})O{sub 3} was prepared using a high-temperature solid-state reaction method. X-ray diffraction analysis indicated the formation of a single-phase cubic structure having space group Pm3m. AC impedance plots as a function of frequency at different temperatures were used to analyse the electrical behaviour of the sample, which indicated the negative temperature coefficient of resistance character. Complex impedance analysis targeted non-Debye type dielectric relaxation. Frequency dependent ac conductivity data obeyed Jonscher’s power law. The apparent activation energy was estimated to be 0.97 eV at 1 kHz.

  10. Synthesis and properties of the compound: LiNi 3/5Cu 2/5VO 4

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ram, Moti

    2009-12-01

    The LiNi 3/5Cu 2/5VO 4 is synthesized by solution-based chemical method and its formation has been checked by X-ray diffraction (XRD) study. XRD study shows a tetragonal unit cell structure with lattice parameters of a = 11.6475 (18) Å, c = 2.4855 (18) Å and c/ a = 0.2134 Å. Electrical properties are verified using complex impedance spectroscopy (CIS) technique. Complex impedance analysis reveals following points: (i) the bulk contribution to electrical properties up to 200 °C, (ii) the bulk and grain boundary contribution at T ≥ 225 °C, (iii) the presence of temperature dependent electrical relaxation phenomena in the material. D.c. conductivity study indicates that electrical conduction in the material is a thermally activated process.

  11. Dielectric, Impedance and Conduction Behavior of Double Perovskite Pr2CuTiO6 Ceramics

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Mahato, Dev K.; Sinha, T. P.

    2017-01-01

    Polycrystalline Pr2CuTiO6 (PCT) ceramics exhibits dielectric, impedance and modulus characteristics as a possible material for microelectronic devices. PCT was synthesized through the standard solid-state reaction method. The dielectric permittivity, impedance and electric modulus of PCT have been studied in a wide frequency (100 Hz-1 MHz) and temperature (303-593 K) range. Structural analysis of the compound revealed a monoclinic phase at room temperature. Complex impedance Cole-Cole plots are used to interpret the relaxation mechanism, and grain boundary contributions towards conductivity have been estimated. From electrical modulus formalism polarization and conductivity relaxation behavior in PCT have been discussed. Normalization of the imaginary part of impedance ( Z″) and the normalized imaginary part of modulus ( M″) indicates contributions from both long-range and localized relaxation effects. The grain boundary resistance along with their relaxation frequencies are plotted in the form of an Arrhenius plot with activation energy 0.45 eV and 0.46 eV, respectively. The ac conductivity mechanism has been discussed.

  12. Evaluation of Grounding Impedance of a Complex Lightning Protective System Using Earth Ground Clamp Measurements and ATP Modeling

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Mata, Carlos T.; Rakov, V. A.; Mata, Angel G.

    2010-01-01

    A new Lightning Protection System (LPS) was designed and built at Launch Complex 39B (LC39B), at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC), Florida, which consists of a catenary wire system (at a height of about 181 meters above ground level) supported by three insulators installed atop three towers in a triangular configuration. A total of nine downconductors (each about 250 meters long, on average) are connected to the catenary wire system. Each of the nine downconductors is connected to a 7.62-meter radius circular counterpoise conductor with six equally spaced 6-meter long vertical grounding rods. Grounding requirements at LC39B call for all underground and above ground metallic piping, enclosures, raceways, and cable trays, within 7.62 meters of the counterpoise, to be bounded to the counterpoise, which results in a complex interconnected grounding system, given the many metallic piping, raceways, and cable trays that run in multiple direction around LC39B. The complexity of this grounding system makes the fall of potential method, which uses multiple metallic rods or stakes, unsuitable for measuring the grounding impedances of the downconductors. To calculate the downconductors grounding impedance, an Earth Ground Clamp (a stakeless grounding resistance measuring device) and a LPS Alternative Transient Program (ATP) model are used. The Earth Ground Clamp is used to measure the loop impedance plus the grounding impedance of each downconductor and the ATP model is used to calculate the loop impedance of each downconductor circuit. The grounding impedance of the downconductors is then calculated by subtracting the ATP calculated loop impedances from the Earth Ground Clamp measurements.

  13. Conduction mechanism, impedance spectroscopic investigation and dielectric behavior of La0.5Ca0.5-xAgxMnO3 manganites with compositions below the concentration limit of silver solubility in perovskites (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.2).

    PubMed

    Rahmouni, H; Smari, M; Cherif, B; Dhahri, E; Khirouni, K

    2015-06-14

    This study presents the electrical properties, complex impedance analysis and dielectrical behavior of La0.5Ca0.5-xAgxMnO3 manganites with compositions below the concentration limit of silver solubility in perovskites (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.2). Transport measurements indicate that all the samples have a semiconductor-like behavior. The metal-semiconductor transition is not observed across the whole temperature range explored [80 K-700 K]. At a specific temperature, a saturation region was marked in the σ (T) curves. We obtained a maximum σdc value at ambient temperature with the introduction of 20% Ag content. Two hopping models were applied to study the conduction mechanism. We found that activation energy (Ea) related to ac-conductivity is lower than the Ea implicated in dc-conductivity. Complex impedance analysis confirms the contribution of grain boundary to conductivity and permits the attribution of grain boundary capacitance evolution to the temperature dependence of the barrier layer width. From the temperature dependence of the average normalized change (ANC), we deduce the temperature at which the available density of trapped charge states vanishes. Such a temperature is close to the temperature at which the saturation region appears in σ(T) curves. Moreover, complex impedance analysis (CIA) indicates the presence of electrical relaxation in materials. It is noteworthy that relaxation species such as defects may be responsible for electrical conduction. The dielectric behavior of La0.5Ca0.5-xAgxMnO3 manganites has a Debye-like relaxation with a sharp decrease in the real part of permittivity at a frequency where the imaginary part of permittivity (ε'') and tg δ plots versus frequency demonstrate a relaxation peak. The Debye-like relaxation is explained by Maxwell-Wagner (MW) polarization. Experimental results are found to be in good agreement with the Smit and Wijn theory.

  14. A FEM-based method to determine the complex material properties of piezoelectric disks.

    PubMed

    Pérez, N; Carbonari, R C; Andrade, M A B; Buiochi, F; Adamowski, J C

    2014-08-01

    Numerical simulations allow modeling piezoelectric devices and ultrasonic transducers. However, the accuracy in the results is limited by the precise knowledge of the elastic, dielectric and piezoelectric properties of the piezoelectric material. To introduce the energy losses, these properties can be represented by complex numbers, where the real part of the model essentially determines the resonance frequencies and the imaginary part determines the amplitude of each resonant mode. In this work, a method based on the Finite Element Method (FEM) is modified to obtain the imaginary material properties of piezoelectric disks. The material properties are determined from the electrical impedance curve of the disk, which is measured by an impedance analyzer. The method consists in obtaining the material properties that minimize the error between experimental and numerical impedance curves over a wide range of frequencies. The proposed methodology starts with a sensitivity analysis of each parameter, determining the influence of each parameter over a set of resonant modes. Sensitivity results are used to implement a preliminary algorithm approaching the solution in order to avoid the search to be trapped into a local minimum. The method is applied to determine the material properties of a Pz27 disk sample from Ferroperm. The obtained properties are used to calculate the electrical impedance curve of the disk with a Finite Element algorithm, which is compared with the experimental electrical impedance curve. Additionally, the results were validated by comparing the numerical displacement profile with the displacements measured by a laser Doppler vibrometer. The comparison between the numerical and experimental results shows excellent agreement for both electrical impedance curve and for the displacement profile over the disk surface. The agreement between numerical and experimental displacement profiles shows that, although only the electrical impedance curve is considered in the adjustment procedure, the obtained material properties allow simulating the displacement amplitude accurately. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  15. Calculating the Lightning Protection System Downconductors' Grounding Resistance at Launch Complex 39B, Kennedy Space Center

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Mata, Carlos T.; Mata, Angel G.

    2012-01-01

    A new Lightning Protection System (LPS) was designed and built at Launch Complex 39B (LC39B), at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC), Florida, which consists of a catenary wire system (at a height of about 181 meters above ground level) supported by three insulators installed atop three towers in a triangular configuration. Nine downconductors (each about 250 meters long) are connected to the catenary wire system. Each downconductor is connected to a 7.62-meter-radius circular counterpoise conductor with six equally spaced, 6-meter-long vertical grounding rods. Grounding requirements at LC39B call for all underground and aboveground metallic piping, enclosures, raceways, and cable trays, within 7.62 meters of the counterpoise, to be bonded to the counterpoise, which results in a complex interconnected grounding system, given the many metallic piping, raceways, and cable trays that run in multiple directions around LC39B. The complexity of this grounding system makes the fall-of-potential method, which uses multiple metallic rods or stakes, unsuitable for measuring the grounding impedances of the downconductors. To calculate the grounding impedance of the downconductors, an Earth Ground Clamp (EGC) (a stakeless device for measuring grounding impedance) and an Alternative Transient Program (ATP) model of the LPS are used. The EGC is used to measure the loop impedance plus the grounding impedance of each downconductor, and the ATP model is used to calculate the loop impedance of each downconductor circuit. The grounding resistance of the downconductors is then calculated by subtracting the ATP calculated loop impedances from the EGC measurements.

  16. Identification of fluids and an interface between fluids

    DOEpatents

    Lee, D.O.; Wayland, J.R. Jr.

    1988-03-10

    Complex impedance measured over a predefined frequency range is used to determine the identity of different oils in a column. The location of an interface between the oils is determined from the percent frequency effects of the complex impedance measured across the interface. 4 figs.

  17. Modeling electrical double-layer effects for microfluidic impedance spectroscopy from 100 kHz to 110 GHz.

    PubMed

    Little, Charles A E; Orloff, Nathan D; Hanemann, Isaac E; Long, Christian J; Bright, Victor M; Booth, James C

    2017-07-25

    Broadband microfluidic-based impedance spectroscopy can be used to characterize complex fluids, with applications in medical diagnostics and in chemical and pharmacological manufacturing. Many relevant fluids are ionic; during impedance measurements ions migrate to the electrodes, forming an electrical double-layer. Effects from the electrical double-layer dominate over, and reduce sensitivity to, the intrinsic impedance of the fluid below a characteristic frequency. Here we use calibrated measurements of saline solution in microfluidic coplanar waveguide devices at frequencies between 100 kHz and 110 GHz to directly measure the double-layer admittance for solutions of varying ionic conductivity. We successfully model the double-layer admittance using a combination of a Cole-Cole response with a constant phase element contribution. Our analysis yields a double-layer relaxation time that decreases linearly with solution conductivity, and allows for double-layer effects to be separated from the intrinsic fluid response and quantified for a wide range of conducting fluids.

  18. Assessment of alterations in the electrical impedance of muscle after experimental nerve injury via finite-element analysis.

    PubMed

    Wang, Lucy L; Ahad, Mohammad; McEwan, Alistair; Li, Jia; Jafarpoor, Mina; Rutkove, Seward B

    2011-06-01

    The surface measurement of electrical impedance of muscle, incorporated as the technique of electrical impedance myography (EIM), provides a noninvasive approach for evaluating neuromuscular diseases, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. However, the relationship between alterations in surface impedance and the electrical properties of muscle remains uncertain. In order to investigate this further, a group of healthy adult rats, a group of rats two weeks postsciatic crush, and a group of animals six months postcrush underwent EIM of the gastrocnemius-soleus complex. The animals were then killed and the conductivity and permittivity of the extracted muscle measured. Finite-element models based on MRI data were then constructed for each group. The characteristic EIM parameter, 50 kHz phase (±standard error), obtained with surface impedance measurements was 17.3° ± 0.3° for normal animals, 13.8° ± 0.7° for acutely injured animals, and 16.1° ± 0.5° for chronically injured animals. The models predicted parallel changes with phase values of 24.3°, 18.8°, and 21.2° for the normal, acute, and chronic groups, respectively. Other multifrequency impedance parameters showed similar alterations. These results confirm that surface impedance measurements taken in conjunction with anatomical data and finite-element models may offer a noninvasive approach for assessing biophysical alterations in muscle in neuromuscular disease states.

  19. Hardware Specific Integration Strategy for Impedance-Based Structural Health Monitoring of Aerospace Systems

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Owen, Robert B.; Gyekenyesi, Andrew L.; Inman, Daniel J.; Ha, Dong S.

    2011-01-01

    The Integrated Vehicle Health Management (IVHM) Project, sponsored by NASA's Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate, is conducting research to advance the state of highly integrated and complex flight-critical health management technologies and systems. An effective IVHM system requires Structural Health Monitoring (SHM). The impedance method is one such SHM technique for detection and monitoring complex structures for damage. This position paper on the impedance method presents the current state of the art, future directions, applications and possible flight test demonstrations.

  20. Model development and validation of geometrically complex eddy current coils using finite element methods

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Brown, Alexander; Eviston, Connor

    2017-02-01

    Multiple FEM models of complex eddy current coil geometries were created and validated to calculate the change of impedance due to the presence of a notch. Capable realistic simulations of eddy current inspections are required for model assisted probability of detection (MAPOD) studies, inversion algorithms, experimental verification, and tailored probe design for NDE applications. An FEM solver was chosen to model complex real world situations including varying probe dimensions and orientations along with complex probe geometries. This will also enable creation of a probe model library database with variable parameters. Verification and validation was performed using other commercially available eddy current modeling software as well as experimentally collected benchmark data. Data analysis and comparison showed that the created models were able to correctly model the probe and conductor interactions and accurately calculate the change in impedance of several experimental scenarios with acceptable error. The promising results of the models enabled the start of an eddy current probe model library to give experimenters easy access to powerful parameter based eddy current models for alternate project applications.

  1. A More Accurate and Efficient Technique Developed for Using Computational Methods to Obtain Helical Traveling-Wave Tube Interaction Impedance

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Kory, Carol L.

    1999-01-01

    The phenomenal growth of commercial communications has created a great demand for traveling-wave tube (TWT) amplifiers. Although the helix slow-wave circuit remains the mainstay of the TWT industry because of its exceptionally wide bandwidth, until recently it has been impossible to accurately analyze a helical TWT using its exact dimensions because of the complexity of its geometrical structure. For the first time, an accurate three-dimensional helical model was developed that allows accurate prediction of TWT cold-test characteristics including operating frequency, interaction impedance, and attenuation. This computational model, which was developed at the NASA Lewis Research Center, allows TWT designers to obtain a more accurate value of interaction impedance than is possible using experimental methods. Obtaining helical slow-wave circuit interaction impedance is an important part of the design process for a TWT because it is related to the gain and efficiency of the tube. This impedance cannot be measured directly; thus, conventional methods involve perturbing a helical circuit with a cylindrical dielectric rod placed on the central axis of the circuit and obtaining the difference in resonant frequency between the perturbed and unperturbed circuits. A mathematical relationship has been derived between this frequency difference and the interaction impedance (ref. 1). However, because of the complex configuration of the helical circuit, deriving this relationship involves several approximations. In addition, this experimental procedure is time-consuming and expensive, but until recently it was widely accepted as the most accurate means of determining interaction impedance. The advent of an accurate three-dimensional helical circuit model (ref. 2) made it possible for Lewis researchers to fully investigate standard approximations made in deriving the relationship between measured perturbation data and interaction impedance. The most prominent approximations made in the analysis were addressed and fully investigated for their accuracy by using the three-dimensional electromagnetic simulation code MAFIA (Solution of Maxwell's Equations by the Finite Integration Algorithm) (refs. 3 and 4). We found that several approximations introduced significant error (ref. 5).

  2. Simulated impedance of diffusion in porous media

    DOE PAGES

    Cooper, Samuel J.; Bertei, Antonio; Finegan, Donal P.; ...

    2017-07-27

    This paper describes the use of a frequency domain, finite-difference scheme to simulate the impedance spectra of diffusion in porous microstructures. We investigate both open and closed systems for a range of ideal geometries, as well as some randomly generated synthetic volumes and tomographically derived microstructural data. In many cases, the spectra deviate significantly from the conventional Warburg-type elements typically used to represent diffusion in equivalent circuit analysis. Furthermore, a key finding is that certain microstructures show multiple peaks in the complex plane, which may be misinterpreted as separate electrochemical processes in real impedance data. This is relevant to batterymore » electrode design as the techniques for nano-scale fabrication become more widespread. This simulation tool is provided as an open-source MatLab application and is freely available online as part of the TauFactor platform.« less

  3. Study of electrical properties of Sc doped BaFe12O19 ceramic using dielectric, impedance, modulus spectroscopy and AC conductivity

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Gupta, Surbhi; Deshpande, S. K.; Sathe, V. G.; Siruguri, V.

    2018-04-01

    We present dielectric, complex impedance, modulus spectroscopy and AC conductivity studies of the compound BaFe10Sc2O19 as a function of temperature and frequency to understand the conduction mechanism. The variation in complex dielectric constant with frequency and temperature were analyzed on the basis of Maxwell-Wagner-Koop's theory and charge hopping between ferrous and ferric ions. The complex impedance spectroscopy study shows only grain contribution whereas complex modulus plot shows two semicircular arcs which indicate both grain and grain boundary contributions in conduction mechanism. AC conductivity has also been evaluated which follows the Jonscher's law. The activation energy calculated from temperature dependence of DC conductivity comes out to be Ea˜ 0.31eV.

  4. Prediction for potential landslide zones using seismic amplitude in Liwan gas field, northern South China Sea

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Li, Xishuang; Liu, Baohua; Liu, Lejun; Zheng, Jiewen; Zhou, Songwang; Zhou, Qingjie

    2017-12-01

    The Liwan (Lw) gas field located in the northern slope of the South China Sea (SCS) is extremely complex for its sea-floor topograghy, which is a huge challenge for the safety of subsea facilities. It is economically impractical to obtain parameters for risk assessment of slope stability through a large amount of sampling over the whole field. The linkage between soil shear strength and seabed peak amplitude derived from 2D/3D seismic data is helpful for understanding the regional slope-instability risk. In this paper, the relationships among seabed peak, acoustic impedance and shear strength of shallow soil in the study area were discussed based on statistical analysis results. We obtained a similar relationship to that obtained in other deep-water areas. There is a positive correlation between seabed peak amplitude and acoustic impedance and an exponential relationship between acoustic impedance and shear strength of sediment. The acoustic impedance is the key factor linking the seismic amplitude and shear strength. Infinite slope stability analysis results indicate the areas have a high potential of shallow landslide on slopes exceeding 15° when the thickness of loose sediments exceeds 8 m in the Lw gas field. Our prediction shows that they are mainly located in the heads and walls of submarine canyons.

  5. PGE(2) activation of apical membrane Cl(-) channels in A6 epithelia: impedance analysis.

    PubMed Central

    Păunescu, T G; Helman, S I

    2001-01-01

    Measurements of transepithelial electrical impedance of continuously short-circuited A6 epithelia were made at audio frequencies (0.244 Hz to 10.45 kHz) to investigate the time course and extent to which prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) modulates Cl(-) transport and apical membrane capacitance in this cell-cultured model epithelium. Apical and basolateral membrane resistances were determined by nonlinear curve-fitting of the impedance vectors at relatively low frequencies (<50 Hz) to equations (Păunescu, T. G., and S. I. Helman. 2001. Biophys. J. 81:838--851) where depressed Nyquist impedance semicircles were characteristic of the membrane impedances under control Na(+)-transporting and amiloride-inhibited conditions. In all tissues (control, amiloride-blocked, and amiloride-blocked and furosemide-pretreated), PGE(2) caused relatively small (< approximately 3 microA/cm(2)) and rapid (<60 s) maximal increase of chloride current due to activation of a rather large increase of apical membrane conductance that preceded significant activation of Na(+) transport through amiloride-sensitive epithelial Na(+) channels (ENaCs). Apical membrane capacitance was frequency-dependent with a Cole-Cole dielectric dispersion whose relaxation frequency was near 150 Hz. Analysis of the time-dependent changes of the complex frequency-dependent equivalent capacitance of the cells at frequencies >1.5 kHz revealed that the mean 9.8% increase of capacitance caused by PGE(2) was not correlated in time with activation of chloride conductance, but rather correlated with activation of apical membrane Na(+) transport. PMID:11463630

  6. Structural and Optoelectronic Properties of SnO2 Thin Films Doped by Group-Ia Elements

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Benhebal, Hadj; Benrabah, Bedhiaf; Ammari, Aek; Madoune, Yacine; Lambert, Stéphanie D.

    This paper presents the results of an experimental work devoted to the synthesis and the characterization of tin dioxide (SnO2) thin layers doped with group-IA elements (Li, Na and K). The materials were synthesized by the sol-gel method and deposited by dip-coating, using tin (II) chloride dihydrate as a source of tin and absolute ethyl alcohol as solvent. Thin films prepared were characterized by several techniques including X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), infrared spectroscopy (IR), visible and ultraviolet spectroscopy and complex impedance method. The results obtained show that the materials kept their tetragonal rutile structure with preferred orientation of (101), whereas doping leads to a reduction of their energy band gap. The complex impedance analysis suggests that the different processes occurring at the electrode interface are modeled by an electrical circuit not affected by the doping.

  7. Dielectric monitoring of carbon nanotube network formation in curing thermosetting nanocomposites

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Battisti, A.; Skordos, A. A.; Partridge, I. K.

    2009-08-01

    This paper focuses on monitoring of carbon nanotube (CNT) network development during the cure of unsaturated polyester nanocomposites by means of electrical impedance spectroscopy. A phenomenological model of the dielectric response is developed using equivalent circuit analysis. The model comprises two parallel RC elements connected in series, each of them giving rise to a semicircular arc in impedance complex plane plots. An established inverse modelling methodology is utilized for the estimation of the parameters of the corresponding equivalent circuit. This allows a quantification of the evolution of two separate processes corresponding to the two parallel RC elements. The high frequency process, which is attributed to CNT aggregates, shows a monotonic decrease in characteristic time during the cure. In contrast, the low frequency process, which corresponds to inter-aggregate phenomena, shows a more complex behaviour explained by the interplay between conductive network development and the cross-linking of the polymer.

  8. RTEMIS: Real-time Tumoroid and Environment Monitoring Using Impedance Spectroscopy and pH Sensing

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Alexander, Frank A., Jr.

    This research utilizes Electrical Impedance Spectroscopy, a technique classically used for electrochemical analysis and material characterization, as the basis for a non-destructive, label-free assay platform for three dimensional (3D) cellular spheroids. In this work, a linear array of microelectrodes is optimized to rapidly respond to changes located within a 3D multicellular model. In addition, this technique is coupled with an on chip micro-pH sensor for monitoring the environment around the cells. Finally, the responses of both impedance and pH are correlated with physical changes within the cellular model. The impedance analysis system realized through this work provides a foundation for the development of high-throughput drug screening systems that utilize multiple parallel sensing modalities including pH and impedance sensing in order to quickly assess the efficacy of specific drug candidates. The slow development of new drugs is mainly attributed to poor predictability of current chemosensitivity and resistivity assays, as well as genetic differences between the animal models used for tests and humans. In addition, monolayer cultures used in early experimentation are fundamentally different from the complex structure of organs in vivo. This requires the study of smaller 3D models (spheroids) that more efficiently replicate the conditions within the body. The main objective of this research was to develop a microfluidic system on a chip that is capable of deducing viability and morphology of 3D tumor spheroids by monitoring both the impedance of the cellular model and the pH of their local environment. This would provide a fast and reliable method for screening pharmaceutical compounds in a high-throughput system.

  9. Impedance Measurement of a Gamma-Ray TES Calorimeter with a Bulk Sn Absorber

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Akamatsu, H.; Ishisaki, Y.; Hoshino, A.

    2009-12-16

    We performed complex impedance measurements with a Ti/Au-based gamma-ray TES calorimeter with a bulk Sn absorber. Excellent energy resolution of 38.4{+-}0.9eV at 60 keV was observed. The impedance of the calorimeter can be well explained by a two-body thermal model. We investigated the behavior of the parameters of the calorimeter during the superconducting-to-normal transition. We confirmed that C and G{sub a} are in good agreement with the predicted values. We performed a noise analysis and found several excess noise components, as well as internal thermal fluctuation noise (ITFN) term due to the thermal conductance between the Sn absorber and themore » Ti/Au TES. Dominanting the noise is an excess noise having a similar frequency dependence to the phonon noise and the ITFN noise.« less

  10. Development of an Algorithm for Automatic Analysis of the Impedance Spectrum Based on a Measurement Model

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kobayashi, Kiyoshi; Suzuki, Tohru S.

    2018-03-01

    A new algorithm for the automatic estimation of an equivalent circuit and the subsequent parameter optimization is developed by combining the data-mining concept and complex least-squares method. In this algorithm, the program generates an initial equivalent-circuit model based on the sampling data and then attempts to optimize the parameters. The basic hypothesis is that the measured impedance spectrum can be reproduced by the sum of the partial-impedance spectra presented by the resistor, inductor, resistor connected in parallel to a capacitor, and resistor connected in parallel to an inductor. The adequacy of the model is determined by using a simple artificial-intelligence function, which is applied to the output function of the Levenberg-Marquardt module. From the iteration of model modifications, the program finds an adequate equivalent-circuit model without any user input to the equivalent-circuit model.

  11. Determination of Complex Microcalorimeter Parameters with Impedance Measurements

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Saab, T.; Bandler, S. R.; Chervenak, J.; Figueroa-Feliciano, E.; Finkbeiner, F.; Iyomoto, N.; Kelley, R.; Kilbourne, C. A.; Lindeman, M. A.; Porter, F. S.; hide

    2005-01-01

    The proper understanding and modeling of a microcalorimeter s response requires the accurate knowledge of a handful of parameters, such as C, G, alpha, . . . . While a few of these, such 8s the normal state resistance and the total thermal conductance to the heat bath (G) are directly determined from the DC IV characteristics, some others, notoriously the heat capacity (C) and alpha, appear in degenerate combinations in most measurable quantities. The case of a complex microcalorimeter, i.e. one in which the absorber s heat capacity is connected by a finite thermal impedance to the sensor, and subsequently by another thermal impedance to the heat bath, results in an added ambiguity in the determination of the individual C's and G's. In general, the dependence of the microcalorimeter s complex impedance on these parameters varies with frequency. This variation allows us to determine the individual parameters by fitting the prediction of the microcalorimeter model to the impedance data. We describe in this paper our efforts at characterizing the Goddard X-ray microcalorimeters. Using the parameters determined with this method we them compare the pulse shape and noise spectra predicted by the microcalorimeter model to data taken with the same devices.

  12. Effect of iron doping at Mn-site on complex impedance spectroscopy properties of Nd0.67Ba0.33MnO3 perovskite

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hsini, Mohamed; Hamdaoui, Nejeh; Hcini, Sobhi; Bouazizi, Mohamed Lamjed; Zemni, Sadok; Beji, Lotfi

    2018-03-01

    The effect of Fe-doping at Mn-site on the structural and electrical properties of Nd0.67Ba0.33Mn1-xFexO3 (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.05) perovskites has been investigated. X-ray diffraction patterns show that the structural parameters change slightly due to the fact that the Fe3+ ions replacing the Mn3+ have similar ionic radius. The electrical properties of these samples have been investigated using complex impedance spectroscopy technique. a function of the frequency at different temperatures. When increasing the Fe-content, a decrease of dc conductivity was observed throughout the whole explored temperature range and the deduced activation energy values are found to increase from 128 meV for x = 0 to 166 meV for x = 0.05. The curves of the imaginary part of impedance (Z″) show the presence of relaxation phenomenon in our samples. The complex impedance spectra show semicircle arcs at different temperatures and an equivalent circuit of the type of Rg + (Rgb//Cgb) has been proposed to explain the impedance results.

  13. A Meier-Gorlin syndrome mutation in a conserved C-terminal helix of Orc6 impedes origin recognition complex formation.

    PubMed

    Bleichert, Franziska; Balasov, Maxim; Chesnokov, Igor; Nogales, Eva; Botchan, Michael R; Berger, James M

    2013-10-08

    In eukaryotes, DNA replication requires the origin recognition complex (ORC), a six-subunit assembly that promotes replisome formation on chromosomal origins. Despite extant homology between certain subunits, the degree of structural and organizational overlap between budding yeast and metazoan ORC has been unclear. Using 3D electron microscopy, we determined the subunit organization of metazoan ORC, revealing that it adopts a global architecture very similar to the budding yeast complex. Bioinformatic analysis extends this conservation to Orc6, a subunit of somewhat enigmatic function. Unexpectedly, a mutation in the Orc6 C-terminus linked to Meier-Gorlin syndrome, a dwarfism disorder, impedes proper recruitment of Orc6 into ORC; biochemical studies reveal that this region of Orc6 associates with a previously uncharacterized domain of Orc3 and is required for ORC function and MCM2-7 loading in vivo. Together, our results suggest that Meier-Gorlin syndrome mutations in Orc6 impair the formation of ORC hexamers, interfering with appropriate ORC functions. DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.00882.001.

  14. Oscillation mechanics of the respiratory system.

    PubMed

    Bates, Jason H T; Irvin, Charles G; Farré, Ramon; Hantos, Zoltán

    2011-07-01

    The mechanical impedance of the respiratory system defines the pressure profile required to drive a unit of oscillatory flow into the lungs. Impedance is a function of oscillation frequency, and is measured using the forced oscillation technique. Digital signal processing methods, most notably the Fourier transform, are used to calculate impedance from measured oscillatory pressures and flows. Impedance is a complex function of frequency, having both real and imaginary parts that vary with frequency in ways that can be used empirically to distinguish normal lung function from a variety of different pathologies. The most useful diagnostic information is gained when anatomically based mathematical models are fit to measurements of impedance. The simplest such model consists of a single flow-resistive conduit connecting to a single elastic compartment. Models of greater complexity may have two or more compartments, and provide more accurate fits to impedance measurements over a variety of different frequency ranges. The model that currently enjoys the widest application in studies of animal models of lung disease consists of a single airway serving an alveolar compartment comprising tissue with a constant-phase impedance. This model has been shown to fit very accurately to a wide range of impedance data, yet contains only four free parameters, and as such is highly parsimonious. The measurement of impedance in human patients is also now rapidly gaining acceptance, and promises to provide a more comprehensible assessment of lung function than parameters derived from conventional spirometry. © 2011 American Physiological Society.

  15. A new hybrid active/passive sound absorber with variable surface impedance

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Betgen, Benjamin; Galland, Marie-Annick

    2011-07-01

    The context of the present paper is the wall treatment of flow ducts, notably aero-engine nacelle intakes and outlets. For this purpose, hybrid active/passive absorbers have been developed at the LMFA for about 15 years. A hybrid cell combines passive absorbent properties of a porous layer and active control at its rear face. Active control is mainly used to increase absorption at low frequencies by cancelling the imaginary part of the surface impedance presented by the absorber. However, the optimal impedance (i.e. the one that produces the highest noise reduction) of an absorber for flow duct applications is generally complex and frequency dependent. A new hybrid absorber intended to realise any of impedance has therefore been developed. The new cell uses one microphone on each side of a resistive cloth. Normal velocity can then be deduced by a simple pressure difference, which allows an estimation of the surface impedance of the absorber. In order to obtain an error signal related to a target impedance, the target impedance has to be reproduced in time domain. The design of a stable and causal filter is a difficult task, considering the kind of frequency response we seek. An alternative way of representing the impedance in time domain is therefore given. The new error signal is integrated into a feedback control structure. Fast convergence and good stability are observed for a wide range of target impedances. Typical optimal impedances with a positive increasing real part and a negative decreasing imaginary part have been successfully realised. Measurements in a grazing-incidence tube show that the new complex impedance absorber clearly outperforms the former active absorber.

  16. The Contextual Functionality of Black Student Unions in Higher Education: An Ecological Systems Analysis

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Johnson, John

    2011-01-01

    Black Student Unions (BSUs) in higher education represent a valued resource as they often engage in activities to recruit and retain students from underrepresented communities. Student groups in higher education, however, are beset by a variety of institutional and contextual complexities and complications that can impede or derail their growth.…

  17. Reducing the beam impedance of the kicker at the 3-GeV rapid cycling synchrotron of the Japan Proton Accelerator Research Complex

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Shobuda, Yoshihiro; Chin, Yong Ho; Hayashi, Naoki; Irie, Yoshiro; Takayanagi, Tomohiro; Togashi, Tomohito; Toyama, Takeshi; Yamamoto, Kazami; Yamamoto, Masanobu

    2018-06-01

    The present four-terminal kicker at the rapid cycling synchrotron (RCS) at the Japan Proton Accelerator Research Complex has the power-saving benefit that it allows beam extraction by doubling the excitation currents with two shorted ends. In this configuration, two terminals of the kicker are connected to the pulse-forming line while the other two are terminated in a short circuit. On the other hand, beam instabilities are excited in the RCS by the kicker beam impedances, which result from the short-circuit termination of the kicker. In this paper, we describe a scheme to reduce the beam impedance of the kicker using diodes (nonlinear devices), while retaining the benefit of the doubled kicker excitation currents. We employ a simulation technique to determine the beam impedance of the kicker, even when such nonlinear devices and long cables are included. The characteristic of beam impedance measured using the accelerated beams is well explained by that obtained from the simulation.

  18. Electromagnetic on-aircraft antenna radiation in the presence of composite plates

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Kan, S. H-T.; Rojas, R. G.

    1994-01-01

    The UTD-based NEWAIR3 code is modified such that it can model modern aircraft by composite plates. One good model of conductor-backed composites is the impedance boundary condition where the composites are replaced by surfaces with complex impedances. This impedance-plate model is then used to model the composite plates in the NEWAIR3 code. In most applications, the aircraft distorts the desired radiation pattern of the antenna. However, test examples conducted in this report have shown that the undesired scattered fields are minimized if the right impedance values are chosen for the surface impedance plates.

  19. Impedance of Barrier-Type Oxide Layer on Aluminum

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Oh, Han-Jun; Kim, Jung-Gu; Jeong, Yong-Soo; Chi, Choong-Soo

    2000-12-01

    The impedance characteristics of barrier-type oxide layers on aluminum was studied using impedance spectroscopy. Since anodic films on Al have a variable stoichiometry with a gradual reduction of oxygen deficiency towards the oxide-electrolyte interface, the interpretation of impedance spectra for oxide layers is complex and the impedance of surface layers differs from those of ideal capacitors. This frequency response of the layer with conductance gradients cannot be described by a single resistance-capacitance (RC) element. The oxide layers of Al are properly described by the Young model of dielectric constant with a vertical decay of conductivity.

  20. Dielectric relaxation behavior and impedance studies of Cu2+ ion doped Mg - Zn spinel nanoferrites

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Choudhary, Pankaj; Varshney, Dinesh

    2018-03-01

    Cu2+ substituted Mg - Zn nanoferrites is synthesized by low temperature fired sol gel auto combustion method. The spinel nature of nanoferrites was confirmed by lab x-ray technique. Williamson - Hall (W-H) analysis estimate the average crystallite size (22.25-29.19 ± 3 nm) and micro strain induced Mg0.5Zn0.5-xCuxFe2O4 (0.0 ≤ x ≤ 0.5). Raman scattering measurements confirm presence of four active phonon modes. Red shift is observed with enhanced Cu concentration. Dielectric parameters exhibit a non - monotonous dispersion with Cu concentration and interpreted with the support of hopping mechanism and Maxwell-Wagner type of interfacial polarization. The ac conductivity of nanoferrites increases with raising the frequency. Complex electrical modulus reveals a non - Debye type of dielectric relaxation present in nanoferrites. Reactive impedance (Z″) detected an anomalous behavior and is related with resonance effect. Complex impedance demonstrates one semicircle corresponding to the intergrain (grain boundary) resistance and also explains conducting nature of nanoferrites. For x = 0.2, a large semicircle is observed revealing the ohmic nature (minimum potential drop at electrode surface). Dielectric properties were improved for nanoferrites with x = 0.2 and is due to high dielectric constant, conductivity and minimum loss value (∼0.009) at 1 MHz.

  1. A critical analysis of single-frequency LCR databridge impedance measurements of human skin.

    PubMed

    White, Erick A; Orazem, Mark E; Bunge, Annette L

    2011-06-01

    Testing whether the barrier of skin samples has sufficient integrity for meaningful measurements of in-vitro chemical permeability is usually required when data are generated for regulatory purposes. Recently, skin integrity has been assessed using LCR databridge measurements, which are reported as resistances determined in either series (SER) or parallel (PAR) modes at a single frequency, typically 100 or 1000Hz. Measurements made at different combinations of mode and frequency are known to differ, although the skin literature reveals confusion over the meaning of these differences and the impact on the interpretation of integrity test results. Here, the theoretical meanings of resistance and capacitance measurements in PAR and SER mode are described and confirmed experimentally. SER-mode resistances are equal to the real part of the complex impedance; whereas, PAR-mode resistances are the inverse of the real part of the admittance. Capacitance measurements reported in SER and PAR modes are similar manipulations of the imaginary parts of the complex impedance and admittance. A large body of data from human cadaver skin is used to show that the PAR-mode resistance and SER-mode capacitance measured at 100Hz are sensitive to skin resistivity, which is the electrical measurement most closely related to skin integrity. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  2. Bias Voltage-Dependent Impedance Spectroscopy Analysis of Hydrothermally Synthesized ZnS Nanoparticles

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Dey, Arka; Dhar, Joydeep; Sil, Sayantan; Jana, Rajkumar; Ray, Partha Pratim

    2018-04-01

    In this report, bias voltage-dependent dielectric and electron transport properties of ZnS nanoparticles were discussed. ZnS nanoparticles were synthesized by introducing a modified hydrothermal process. The powder XRD pattern indicates the phase purity, and field emission scanning electron microscope image demonstrates the morphology of the synthesized sample. The optical band gap energy (E g = 4.2 eV) from UV measurement explores semiconductor behavior of the synthesized material. The electrical properties were performed at room temperature using complex impedance spectroscopy (CIS) technique as a function of frequency (40 Hz-10 MHz) under different forward dc bias voltages (0-1 V). The CIS analysis demonstrates the contribution of bulk resistance in conduction mechanism and its dependency on forward dc bias voltages. The imaginary part of the impedance versus frequency curve exhibits the existence of relaxation peak which shifts with increasing dc forward bias voltages. The dc bias voltage-dependent ac and dc conductivity of the synthesized ZnS was studied on thin film structure. A possible hopping mechanism for electrical transport processes in the system was investigated. Finally, it is worth to mention that this analysis of bias voltage-dependent dielectric and transport properties of as-synthesized ZnS showed excellent properties for emerging energy applications.

  3. Technique for measurement of characteristic impedance and propagation constant for porous materials

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Jung, Ki Won; Atchley, Anthony A.

    2005-09-01

    Knowledge of acoustic properties such as characteristic impedance and complex propagation constant is useful to characterize the acoustic behaviors of porous materials. Song and Bolton's four-microphone method [J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 107, 1131-1152 (2000)] is one of the most widely employed techniques. In this method two microphones are used to determine the complex pressure amplitudes for each side of a sample. Muehleisen and Beamer [J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 117, 536-544 (2005)] improved upon a four-microphone method by interchanging microphones to reduce errors due to uncertainties in microphone response. In this paper, a multiple microphone technique is investigated to reconstruct the pressure field inside an impedance tube. Measurements of the acoustic properties of a material having square cross-section pores is used to check the validity of the technique. The values of characteristic impedance and complex propagation constant extracted from the reconstruction agree well with predicted values. Furthermore, this technique is used in investigating the acoustic properties of reticulated vitreous carbon (RVC) in the range of 250-1100 Hz.

  4. DIELECTROPHORESIS-BASED MICROFLUIDIC SEPARATION AND DETECTION SYSTEMS

    PubMed Central

    Yang, Jun; Vykoukal, Jody; Noshari, Jamileh; Becker, Frederick; Gascoyne, Peter; Krulevitch, Peter; Fuller, Chris; Ackler, Harold; Hamilton, Julie; Boser, Bernhard; Eldredge, Adam; Hitchens, Duncan; Andrews, Craig

    2009-01-01

    Diagnosis and treatment of human diseases frequently requires isolation and detection of certain cell types from a complex mixture. Compared with traditional separation and detection techniques, microfluidic approaches promise to yield easy-to-use diagnostic instruments tolerant of a wide range of operating environments and capable of accomplishing automated analyses. These approaches will enable diagnostic advances to be disseminated from sophisticated clinical laboratories to the point-of-care. Applications will include the separation and differential analysis of blood cell subpopulations for host-based detection of blood cell changes caused by disease, infection, or exposure to toxins, and the separation and analysis of surface-sensitized, custom dielectric beads for chemical, biological, and biomolecular targets. Here we report a new particle separation and analysis microsystem that uses dielectrophoretic field-flow fractionation (DEP-FFF). The system consists of a microfluidic chip with integrated sample injector, a DEP-FFF separator, and an AC impedance sensor. We show the design of a miniaturized impedance sensor integrated circuit (IC) with improved sensitivity, a new packaging approach for micro-flumes that features a slide-together compression package and novel microfluidic interconnects, and the design, control, integration and packaging of a fieldable prototype. Illustrative applications will be shown, including the separation of different sized beads and different cell types, blood cell differential analysis, and impedance sensing results for beads, spores and cells. PMID:22025905

  5. Structural, electrical, optical and magneto-electric characteristics of chemically synthesized CaCu3Ti4O12 dielectric ceramics

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Parida, Kalpana; Choudhary, R. N. P.

    2017-07-01

    CaCu3Ti4O12 (CCTO) was prepared by a chemical reaction method. The pellets prepared from the calcined powder of the material were sintered at 1100 °C. Analysis of x-ray diffraction pattern, recorded on CCTO powder, confirms the phase formation of CCTO. Studies of dielectric (ɛ r, tanδ) and impedance parameters using dielectric and impedance spectroscopy of the compound have provided information about the electrical properties and the dielectric relaxation mechanism of the material. Detailed studies on the variation of electrical conductivity (dc) with temperature show semi-conducting nature of the material. Study of frequency (of applied electric field) dependence of ac conductivity at different temperatures suggests that the compound follows the Jonscher’s power law. Complex impedance spectroscopic analysis suggests that the semicircles formed in the Nyquist plot are connected to the grains, grain boundary and interface effects. An optical energy band gap of ~1.9 eV is obtained from the UV-visible absorbance spectrum. The magnetic data related to magneto-electric (ME) coefficient, measured by varying dc bias magnetic field, have been obtained at room temperature.

  6. Investigation of conduction and relaxation phenomena in BaZrxTi1-xO3 (x=0.05) by impedance spectroscopy

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Mahajan, Sandeep; Haridas, Divya; Ali, S. T.; Munirathnam, N. R.; Sreenivas, K.; Thakur, O. P.; Prakash, Chandra

    2014-10-01

    In present study we have prepared ferroelectric BaZrxTi1-xO3 (x=0.05) ceramic by conventional solid state reaction route and studied its electrical properties as a function of temperature and frequency. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis shows single-phase formation of the compound with orthorhombic crystal structure at room temperature. Impedance and electric modulus spectroscopy analysis in the frequency range of 40 Hz-1 MHz at high temperature (200-600 °C) suggests two relaxation processes with different time constant are involved which are attributed to bulk and grain boundary effects. Frequency dependent dielectric plot at different temperature shows normal variation with frequency while dielectric loss (tanδ) peak was found to obey an Arrhenius law with activation energy of 1.02 eV. The frequency-dependent AC conductivity data were also analyzed in a wide temperature range. In present work we have studied the role of grain and grain boundaries on the electrical behaviour of Zr-doped BaTiO3 and their dependence on temperature and frequency by complex impedance and modulus spectroscopy (CIS) technique in a wide frequency (40 Hz-1 MHz) and high temperature range.

  7. Mechanical Impedance Modeling of Human Arm: A survey

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Puzi, A. Ahmad; Sidek, S. N.; Sado, F.

    2017-03-01

    Human arm mechanical impedance plays a vital role in describing motion ability of the upper limb. One of the impedance parameters is stiffness which is defined as the ratio of an applied force to the measured deformation of the muscle. The arm mechanical impedance modeling is useful in order to develop a better controller for system that interacts with human as such an automated robot-assisted platform for automated rehabilitation training. The aim of the survey is to summarize the existing mechanical impedance models of human upper limb so to justify the need to have an improved version of the arm model in order to facilitate the development of better controller of such systems with ever increase in complexity. In particular, the paper will address the following issue: Human motor control and motor learning, constant and variable impedance models, methods for measuring mechanical impedance and mechanical impedance modeling techniques.

  8. Measuring impedance in congestive heart failure: Current options and clinical applications

    PubMed Central

    Tang, W. H. Wilson; Tong, Wilson

    2011-01-01

    Measurement of impedance is becoming increasingly available in the clinical setting as a tool for assessing hemodynamics and volume status in patients with heart failure. The 2 major categories of impedance assessment are the band electrode method and the implanted device lead method. The exact sources of the impedance signal are complex and can be influenced by physiologic effects such as blood volume, fluid, and positioning. This article provides a critical review of our current understanding and promises of impedance measurements, the techniques that have evolved, as well as the evidence and limitations regarding their clinical applications in the setting of heart failure management. PMID:19249408

  9. Structural, morphological, dielectric and impedance spectroscopy of lead-free Bi(Zn2/3Ta1/3)O3 electronic material

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Halder, S.; Bhuyan, S.; Das, S. N.; Sahoo, S.; Choudhary, R. N. P.; Das, P.; Parida, K.

    2017-12-01

    A lead-free dielectric material [Bi(Zn2/3Ta1/3)O3] has been prepared using a solid state reaction technique at high-temperature. The resistive, conducting and capacitive characteristics of the prepared electronic material have been studied in different experimental conditions. The determination of basic crystal parameters and reflection indices confirm the development of polycrystalline compound with orthorhombic crystal structure. The study of frequency-temperature dependence of ac conductivity illustrates the nature and conduction mechanism of the material. On the basis of observed impedance data and detailed dielectric analysis, the existence of non-Debye type relaxation has been affirmed. The electronic charge carriers of compound have short range order that has been validated from the complex modulus and impedance spectrum. The detailed studies of resistive, capacitive, microstructural characteristics of the prepared material provide some useful data for considering the material as an electronic component for fabrication of devices.

  10. Ferroelectric relaxor behaviour and impedance spectroscopy of Bi2O3-doped barium zirconium titanate ceramics

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Mahajan, Sandeep; Thakur, O P; Bhattacharya, D K; Sreenivas, K

    2009-03-01

    Bi2O3-doped barium zirconate titanate ceramics, Ba1-xBix(Zr0.05Ti0.95)O3, have been prepared by the conventional solid-state reaction method. The ferroelectric relaxor behaviour and dielectric properties have been investigated in detail. By XRD analysis, it is suggested that up to x = 0.04, Bi3+ substitutes A-site ion, and thereafter with higher Bi3+ content, it enters the B-site sub lattice. Substitution of Bi3+ ions induces ferroelectric relaxor behaviour and the degree of relaxation behaviour increases with bismuth concentration. The remanent polarization and strain behaviour show a slight increase with the substitution level. The degree of hysteresis (strain versus electric field) also reduces from 21.4% to 4.6% with bismuth substitution. Impedance measurements were made on the prepared sample over a wide range of temperatures (300-723 K) and frequencies (40 Hz-1 MHz), which show the presence of both bulk and grain boundary effects in the material. The bulk and grain boundary conductivities determined from impedance study indicate the Arrhenius-type thermally activated process. Impedance spectroscopy is shown to be an efficient method capable of detecting the contributions of the resistances of grains and grain boundaries to the complex impedance of a ceramic system, accurately estimating its electrical conductivity as well as its corresponding activation energies and drawing conclusions on its structural properties.

  11. Cell Electrical Impedance as a Novel Approach for Studies on Senescence Not Based on Biomarkers

    PubMed Central

    Cha, Jung-Joon; Park, Yangkyu; Yun, Joho; Kim, Hyeon Woo; Park, Chang-Ju; Kang, Giseok; Jung, Minhyun; Pak, Boryeong; Jin, Suk-Won

    2016-01-01

    Senescence of cardiac myocytes is frequently associated with heart diseases. To analyze senescence in cardiac myocytes, a number of biomarkers have been isolated. However, due to the complex nature of senescence, multiple markers are required for a single assay to accurately depict complex physiological changes associated with senescence. In single cells, changes in both cytoplasm and cell membrane during senescence can affect the changes in electrical impedance. Based on this phenomenon, we developed MEDoS, a novel microelectrochemical impedance spectroscopy for diagnosis of senescence, which allows us to precisely measure quantitative changes in electrical properties of aging cells. Using cardiac myocytes isolated from 3-, 6-, and 18-month-old isogenic zebrafish, we examined the efficacy of MEDoS and showed that MEDoS can identify discernible changes in electrical impedance. Taken together, our data demonstrated that electrical impedance in cells at different ages is distinct with quantitative values; these results were comparable with previously reported ones. Therefore, we propose that MEDoS be used as a new biomarker-independent methodology to obtain quantitative data on the biological senescence status of individual cells. PMID:27812531

  12. A new method to assess skin treatments for lowering the impedance and noise of individual gelled Ag-AgCl electrodes.

    PubMed

    Piervirgili, G; Petracca, F; Merletti, R

    2014-10-01

    A model-based new procedure for measuring the single electrode-gel-skin impedance (ZEGS) is presented. The method is suitable for monitoring the contact impedance of the electrodes of a large array with limited modifications of the hardware and without removing or disconnecting the array from the amplifier. The procedure is based on multiple measurements between electrode pairs and is particularly suitable for electrode arrays. It has been applied to study the effectiveness of three skin treatments, with respect to no treatment, for reducing the electrode-gel-skin impedance (ZEGS) and noise: (i) rubbing with alcohol; (ii) rubbing with abrasive conductive paste; (iii) stripping with adhesive tape. The complex impedances ZEGS of the individual electrodes were measured by applying this procedure to disposable commercial Ag-AgCl gelled electrode arrays (4  ×  1) with a 5 mm(2) contact area. The impedance unbalance ΔZ = ZEGS1 - ZEGS2 and the RMS noise (VRMS) were measured between pairs of electrodes. The tissue impedance ZT was also obtained, as a collateral result. Measurements were repeated at t0 = 0 min and at t30 = 30 min from the electrode application. Mixed linear models and linear regression analysis applied to ZEGS, ΔZ and noise VRMS for the skin treatment factor demonstrated (a) that skin rubbing with abrasive conductive paste is more effective in lowering ZEGS, ΔZ and VRMS (p < 0.01) than the other treatments or no treatment, and (b) a statistically significant decrement (p < 0.01), between t0 and t30, of magnitude and phase of ZEGS.Rubbing with abrasive conductive paste significantly decreased the noise VRMS with respect to other treatments or no treatment.

  13. Detection of needle to nerve contact based on electric bioimpedance and machine learning methods.

    PubMed

    Kalvoy, Havard; Tronstad, Christian; Ullensvang, Kyrre; Steinfeldt, Thorsten; Sauter, Axel R

    2017-07-01

    In an ongoing project for electrical impedance-based needle guidance we have previously showed in an animal model that intraneural needle positions can be detected with bioimpedance measurement. To enhance the power of this method we in this study have investigated whether an early detection of the needle only touching the nerve also is feasible. Measurement of complex impedance during needle to nerve contact was compared with needle positions in surrounding tissues in a volunteer study on 32 subjects. Classification analysis using Support-Vector Machines demonstrated that discrimination is possible, but that the sensitivity and specificity for the nerve touch algorithm not is at the same level of performance as for intra-neuralintraneural detection.

  14. Determination of the shear impedance of viscoelastic liquids using cylindrical piezoceramic resonators.

    PubMed

    Kiełczyński, Piotr; Pajewski, Wincenty; Szalewski, Marek

    2003-03-01

    In this paper, a new method for determining the rheological parameters of viscoelastic liquids is presented. To this end, we used the perturbation method applied to shear vibrations of cylindrical piezoceramic resonators. The resonator was viscoelastically loaded on the outer cylindrical surface. Due to this loading, the resonant frequency and quality factor of the resonator changed. According to the perturbation method, the change in the complex resonant frequency deltaomega = deltaomega(re) + jdeltaomega(im) is directly proportional to the specific acoustic impedance for cylindrical waves Zc of a viscoelastic liquid surrounding the resonator, i.e., deltaomega is approximately equal to jZc, where j = (-1)1/2. Hence, the measurement of the real and imaginary parts of the complex resonant frequency deltaomega determines the real part, Rc, and imaginary part, Xc, of the complex acoustic impedance for cylindrical waves Zc of an investigated liquid. Furthermore, the specific impedance ZL for plane waves was related to the specific impedance Zc for cylindrical waves. Using theoretical formulas established and the results of the experiments performed, the shear storage modulus mu and the viscosity eta for various liquids (e.g., epoxy resins) were determined. Moreover, the authors derived for cylindrical resonators a formula that relates the shift in resonant frequency to the viscosity of the liquid. This formula is analogous to the Kanazawa-Gordon formula that was derived for planar resonators and Newtonian liquids.

  15. Synthesis, dielectric, conductivity and magnetic studies of LiNi1/3Co1/3Mn(1/3)-xAlxO2 (x = 0.0, 0.02, 0.04 and 0.06) for cathode materials of lithium-ion batteries

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Murali, N.; Margarette, S. J.; Veeraiah, V.

    Layered structure cathode materials LiNi1/3Co1/3Mn(1/3)-xAlxO2 (x = 0.0, 0.02, 0.04 and 0.06) are prepared by the sol-gel method by adding citric acid as chelating agent. The physical, electrical and magnetic properties of the synthesized materials are systematically discussed using the structural (XRD, FESEM with EDS and FT-IR), impedance (LCR) and electron spin resonance (ESR) measurements. The X-ray diffraction pattern of the synthesized samples possessed the α-NaFeO2 structure of the space group, R 3 bar m , with no evidence of any impurities. The peak intensity ratio I(104)/I(003) increased with Al concentration, which indicated the cation mixing between transition metal layer and lithium layer. The field effect scanning electron microscopy showed the particle size distribution in the range of 230-250 nm and EDS has been analysed for elemental mapping. The local structure is investigated by vibrational spectroscopy in FT-IR study. The impedance studies are characterized by complex impedance spectroscopy (CIS) in the frequency range from 42 Hz to 1 MHz at room temperature (30 °C). The dielectric properties are analyzed in the framework of complex dielectric permittivity and formalism of the complex electric modulus. For these samples, the ESR analysis of magnetic measurements, the degree of cation mixing, is estimated to be Ni2+(3b) = 2.75%.

  16. An Empirically Derived Taxonomy of Factors Affecting Physicians' Willingness to Disclose Medical Errors

    PubMed Central

    Kaldjian, Lauris C; Jones, Elizabeth W; Rosenthal, Gary E; Tripp-Reimer, Toni; Hillis, Stephen L

    2006-01-01

    BACKGROUND Physician disclosure of medical errors to institutions, patients, and colleagues is important for patient safety, patient care, and professional education. However, the variables that may facilitate or impede disclosure are diverse and lack conceptual organization. OBJECTIVE To develop an empirically derived, comprehensive taxonomy of factors that affects voluntary disclosure of errors by physicians. DESIGN A mixed-methods study using qualitative data collection (structured literature search and exploratory focus groups), quantitative data transformation (sorting and hierarchical cluster analysis), and validation procedures (confirmatory focus groups and expert review). RESULTS Full-text review of 316 articles identified 91 impeding or facilitating factors affecting physicians' willingness to disclose errors. Exploratory focus groups identified an additional 27 factors. Sorting and hierarchical cluster analysis organized factors into 8 domains. Confirmatory focus groups and expert review relocated 6 factors, removed 2 factors, and modified 4 domain names. The final taxonomy contained 4 domains of facilitating factors (responsibility to patient, responsibility to self, responsibility to profession, responsibility to community), and 4 domains of impeding factors (attitudinal barriers, uncertainties, helplessness, fears and anxieties). CONCLUSIONS A taxonomy of facilitating and impeding factors provides a conceptual framework for a complex field of variables that affects physicians' willingness to disclose errors to institutions, patients, and colleagues. This taxonomy can be used to guide the design of studies to measure the impact of different factors on disclosure, to assist in the design of error-reporting systems, and to inform educational interventions to promote the disclosure of errors to patients. PMID:16918739

  17. Comparison of Two Acoustic Waveguide Methods for Determining Liner Impedance

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Jones, Michael G.; Watson, Willie R.; Tracy, Maureen B.; Parrott, Tony L.

    2001-01-01

    Acoustic measurements taken in a flow impedance tube are used to assess the relative accuracy of two waveguide methods for impedance eduction in the presence of grazing flow. The aeroacoustic environment is assumed to contain forward and backward-traveling acoustic waves, consisting of multiple modes, and uniform mean flow. Both methods require a measurement of the complex acoustic pressure profile over the length of the test liner. The Single Mode Method assumes that the sound pressure level and phase decay-rates of a single progressive mode can be extracted from this measured complex acoustic pressure profile. No a priori assumptions are made in the Finite Element. Method regarding the modal or reflection content in the measured acoustic pressure profile. The integrity of each method is initially demonstrated by how well their no-flow impedances match those acquired in a normal incidence impedance tube. These tests were conducted using ceramic tubular and conventional perforate liners. Ceramic tubular liners were included because of their impedance insensitivity to mean flow effects. Conversely, the conventional perforate liner was included because its impedance is known to be sensitive to mean flow velocity effects. Excellent comparisons between impedance values educed with the two waveguide methods in the absence of mean flow and the corresponding values educed with the normal incident impedance tube were observed. The two methods are then compared for mean flow Mach numbers up to 0.5, and are shown to give consistent results for both types of test liners. The quality of the results indicates that the Single Mode Method should be used when the measured acoustic pressure profile is clearly dominated by a single progressive mode, and the Finite Element Method should be used for all other cases.

  18. Electrical transport properties of LiNiV O ceramics

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ram, Moti

    2009-08-01

    The LiNiV O 4 fine powder has been synthesized by chemical "pyrophoric reaction process". The formation of LiNiV O 4 is confirmed by X-ray diffraction analysis. X-ray analysis shows that the compound has cubic crystal structure with lattice constant ( a=8.2243(2) Å). Microstructure of the sintered pellet is identified by taking the field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) pictures, which reveals the grain size as ˜0.2-2 μm. Electrical properties are measured using complex impedance spectroscopy technique. Bulk contribution to electrical response is identified by the analysis of complex plane diagrams. The activation energy calculated from σ vs 10 3/T graph is ˜0.06 eV (25-225 ∘C) and ˜0.55 eV (225-375 ∘C). Complex modulus study shows non-Debye type (polydispersive) conductivity relaxation in the compound.

  19. Broadband Impedance Microscopy for Research on Complex Quantum Materials

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2016-02-08

    function in various materials. Figure 2. Sensitivity limit of the broadband impedance microscope (BIM). Figure 3. Preliminary BIM data on YMnO3...2 Statement of the Problem The objective of this DURIP award is to construct a broadband impedance microscope (BIM) for frequency-dependent...platforms and specialized cantilever probes [1] in the PI’s lab, the BIM can now simultaneously obtain microscopic (10 – 100 nm) and quasi- spectroscopic

  20. Particle-In-Cell Simulations on Electric Field Antenna Characteristics in the Spacecraft Environment

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Miyake, Y.; Usui, H.; Kojima, H.; Omura, Y.; Matsumoto, H.

    2006-12-01

    The Solar Terrestrial Physics (STP) group in Japan has organized a new magnetospheric mission named SCOPE whose objective is to investigate the scale-coupling process of plasma dynamics in the Terrestrial magnetosphere. For the sophisticated electric field measurements planned in the SCOPE mission, we have to investigate the antenna characteristics which are essential for the precise calibration of observed data. Particularly, (1) realistic antenna geometries including spacecraft body and (2) inhomogeneous plasma environment created by plasma-spacecraft interactions should be taken into consideration in the antenna analysis for application to the scientific mission. However, the analysis of the antenna impedance is very complex because the plasma is a dispersive and anisotropic medium, and thus it is too difficult to consider the realistic plasma environment near the spacecraft by the theoretical approaches. In the present study, we apply the Particle-In-Cell simulations to the antenna analysis, which enables us to treat the antenna model including a spacecraft body and analyze the effects of photoelectron emission on antenna characteristics. The present antenna model consists of perfect conducting antennas and spacecraft body, and the photoelectron emission from the sunlit surfaces is also modeled. Using these models, we first performed the electrostatic simulations and examined the photoelectron environment around the spacecraft. Next, the antenna impedance under the obtained photoelectron environment was examined by the electromagnetic simulations. Impedance values obtained in photoelectron environment were much different from those in free space, and they were analogous to the impedance characteristics of an equivalent electric circuit consisting of a resistance and capacitance connected in parallel. The validity of the obtained values has been examined by the comparison with the measurements by the scientific spacecraft.

  1. Monitoring and Characterizing Crop Root Systems Using Electrical Impedance Tomography (EIT)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Weigand, M.; Kemna, A.

    2016-12-01

    A better understanding of root-soil interactions and associated processes is essential to achieve progress in crop breeding and management, prompting the need for high-resolution and non-destructive characterization methods. Such methods are still lacking, in particular for characterizing root growth and function in the field. A promising technique in this respect is electrical impedance tomography (EIT), which provides images of the low-frequency electrical conduction and polarization properties and thus can be used to investigate polarization processes occurring within and in the direct vicinity of roots under the influence of an external alternating electric field. This approach takes advantage of the well-known polarization properties associated with electrical double layers forming at membranes of cells and cell clusters. However, upscaling these processes to the scale of an impedance, or complex conductivity, spectrum of the whole root system is not trivial given the lack of electrical root models, the complexity of root systems, and the occurrence of additional larger-scale, ion-selective, and therefore polarizable, structures such as the Casparian strip. We here present results from several EIT laboratory studies on rhizotrons with crop root systems in aqueous solutions. Based on optimized experimental and data analysis procedures, enabling the imaging of the weak signals encountered in our studies, we found systematic spatial and temporal changes of both the magnitude and the shape of the spectral polarization signatures during nutrient deprivation and in response to the decapitation of plants. Consistent, but relatively weak, spectral impedance changes were also observed over diurnal cycles. Our results provide evidence for the capability of EIT to non-invasively image and monitor root systems at the rhizotron scale. They further suggest that EIT is a promising tool for imaging, characterizing, and monitoring crop roots at the field scale.

  2. Real-time estimation of lesion depth and control of radiofrequency ablation within ex vivo animal tissues using a neural network.

    PubMed

    Wang, Yearnchee Curtis; Chan, Terence Chee-Hung; Sahakian, Alan Varteres

    2018-01-04

    Radiofrequency ablation (RFA), a method of inducing thermal ablation (cell death), is often used to destroy tumours or potentially cancerous tissue. Current techniques for RFA estimation (electrical impedance tomography, Nakagami ultrasound, etc.) require long compute times (≥ 2 s) and measurement devices other than the RFA device. This study aims to determine if a neural network (NN) can estimate ablation lesion depth for control of bipolar RFA using complex electrical impedance - since tissue electrical conductivity varies as a function of tissue temperature - in real time using only the RFA therapy device's electrodes. Three-dimensional, cubic models comprised of beef liver, pork loin or pork belly represented target tissue. Temperature and complex electrical impedance from 72 data generation ablations in pork loin and belly were used for training the NN (403 s on Xeon processor). NN inputs were inquiry depth, starting complex impedance and current complex impedance. Training-validation-test splits were 70%-0%-30% and 80%-10%-10% (overfit test). Once the NN-estimated lesion depth for a margin reached the target lesion depth, RFA was stopped for that margin of tissue. The NN trained to 93% accuracy and an NN-integrated control ablated tissue to within 1.0 mm of the target lesion depth on average. Full 15-mm depth maps were calculated in 0.2 s on a single-core ARMv7 processor. The results show that a NN could make lesion depth estimations in real-time using less in situ devices than current techniques. With the NN-based technique, physicians could deliver quicker and more precise ablation therapy.

  3. Measurements of complex impedance in microwave high power systems with a new bluetooth integrated circuit.

    PubMed

    Roussy, Georges; Dichtel, Bernard; Chaabane, Haykel

    2003-01-01

    By using a new integrated circuit, which is marketed for bluetooth applications, it is possible to simplify the method of measuring the complex impedance, complex reflection coefficient and complex transmission coefficient in an industrial microwave setup. The Analog Devices circuit AD 8302, which measures gain and phase up to 2.7 GHz, operates with variable level input signals and is less sensitive to both amplitude and frequency fluctuations of the industrial magnetrons than are mixers and AM crystal detectors. Therefore, accurate gain and phase measurements can be performed with low stability generators. A mechanical setup with an AD 8302 is described; the calibration procedure and its performance are presented.

  4. General analytical solutions for DC/AC circuit-network analysis

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Rubido, Nicolás; Grebogi, Celso; Baptista, Murilo S.

    2017-06-01

    In this work, we present novel general analytical solutions for the currents that are developed in the edges of network-like circuits when some nodes of the network act as sources/sinks of DC or AC current. We assume that Ohm's law is valid at every edge and that charge at every node is conserved (with the exception of the source/sink nodes). The resistive, capacitive, and/or inductive properties of the lines in the circuit define a complex network structure with given impedances for each edge. Our solution for the currents at each edge is derived in terms of the eigenvalues and eigenvectors of the Laplacian matrix of the network defined from the impedances. This derivation also allows us to compute the equivalent impedance between any two nodes of the circuit and relate it to currents in a closed circuit which has a single voltage generator instead of many input/output source/sink nodes. This simplifies the treatment that could be done via Thévenin's theorem. Contrary to solving Kirchhoff's equations, our derivation allows to easily calculate the redistribution of currents that occurs when the location of sources and sinks changes within the network. Finally, we show that our solutions are identical to the ones found from Circuit Theory nodal analysis.

  5. Impedance study of undoped, polycrystalline diamond layers obtained by HF CVD

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Paprocki, Kazimierz; Fabisiak, Kazimerz; Dychalska, Anna; Szybowicz, Mirosław; Dudkowiak, Alina; Iskaliyeva, Aizhan

    2017-04-01

    In this paper, we report results of impedance measurements in polycrystalline diamond films deposited on n-Si using HF CVD method. The temperature was changed from 170 K up to RT and the scan frequency from 42 Hz to 5 MHz. The results of impedance measurement of the real and imaginary parts were presented in the form of a Cole-Cole plot in the complex plane. In the temperatures below RT, the observed impedance response of polycrystalline diamond was in the form of a single semicircular form. In order to interpret the observed response, a double resistor-capacitor parallel circuit model was used which allow for interpretation physical mechanisms responsible for such behavior. The impedance results were correlated with Raman spectroscopy measurements.

  6. Manipulating Acoustic Wavefront by Inhomogeneous Impedance and Steerable Extraordinary Reflection

    PubMed Central

    Zhao, Jiajun; Li, Baowen; Chen, Zhining; Qiu, Cheng-Wei

    2013-01-01

    We unveil the connection between the acoustic impedance along a flat surface and the reflected acoustic wavefront, in order to empower a wide wariety of novel applications in acoustic community. Our designed flat surface can generate double reflections: the ordinary reflection and the extraordinary one whose wavefront is manipulated by the proposed impedance-governed generalized Snell's law of reflection (IGSL). IGSL is based on Green's function and integral equation, instead of Fermat's principle for optical wavefront manipulation. Remarkably, via the adjustment of the designed specific acoustic impedance, extraordinary reflection can be steered for unprecedented acoustic wavefront while that ordinary reflection can be surprisingly switched on or off. The realization of the complex discontinuity of the impedance surface has been proposed using Helmholtz resonators. PMID:23985717

  7. Impedance spectral analysis and scaling behavior of Mn2+-Si4+ substituted Mn-Zn ferrites

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Vasoya, N. H.; Saija, K. G.; Dolia, S. N.; Jha, Prafulla K.; Modi, K. B.

    2017-11-01

    This communication reports complex impedance (Z *  =  Z‧  -  iZ″) spectral analysis of polycrystalline spinel ferrite system, Mn0.7+x Zn0.3Si x Fe2-2x O4 (x  =  0.0-0.3), synthesized by a solid-state reaction route over the broad frequency (f  =  20 Hz-1 MHz) and temperature (T  =  300-673 K) ranges. Variation of Z‧(f, T) showing a typical negative temperature coefficient of resistant type behavior. Cole-Cole plots (Z″ versus Z‧) have been used to determine grain and grain boundary resistances, capacitances, relaxation frequencies and relaxation times. Relaxation time is found to decrease with temperature and it obeys the Arrhenius relationship. The corresponding activation energy values are found to be about ~0.6 eV suggesting conduction due to the polaron hopping based on the electron carriers. Evidence of the components from both localized and delocalized relaxations is observed. The scaling of Z″/Z max by using f max as a scaling parameter is more successful as compared to that carried out using σ dc as a scaling quantity. The results revealed that the complex dielectric parameters and structure of the ferrite ceramics are strongly coupled properties.

  8. Detection of electrically neutral and nonpolar molecules in ionic solutions using silicon nanowires

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wu, Ying-Pin; Chu, Chia-Jung; Tsai, Li-Chu; Su, Ya-Wen; Chen, Pei-Hua; Moodley, Mathew K.; Huang, Ding; Chen, Yit-Tsong; Yang, Ying-Jay; Chen, Chii-Dong

    2017-04-01

    We report on a technique that can extend the use of nanowire sensors to the detection of interactions involving nonpolar and neutral molecules in an ionic solution environment. This technique makes use of the fact that molecular interactions result in a change in the permittivity of the molecules involved. For the interactions taking place at the surface of nanowires, this permittivity change can be determined from the analysis of the measured complex impedance of the nanowire. To demonstrate this technique, histidine was detected using different charge polarities controlled by the pH value of the solution. This included the detection of electrically neutral histidine at a sensitivity of 1 pM. Furthermore, it is shown that nonpolar molecules, such as hexane, can also be detected. The technique is applicable to the use of nanowires with and without a surface-insulating oxide. We show that information about the changes in amplitude and the phase of the complex impedance reveals the fundamental characteristics of the molecular interactions, including the molecular field and the permittivity.

  9. Shear resonance mode decoupling to determine the characteristic matrix of piezoceramics for 3-D modeling.

    PubMed

    Pardo, Lorena; García, Alvaro; de Espinosa, Francisco Montero; Brebøl, Klaus

    2011-03-01

    The determination of the characteristic frequencies of an electromechanical resonance does not provide enough data to obtain the material properties of piezoceramics, including all losses, from complex impedance measurements. Values of impedance around resonance and antiresonance frequencies are also required to calculate the material losses. Uncoupled resonances are needed for this purpose. The shear plates used for the material characterization present unavoidable mode coupling of the shear mode and other modes of the plate. A study of the evolution of the complex material coefficients as the coupling of modes evolves with the change in the aspect ratio (lateral dimension/thickness) of the plate is presented here. These are obtained using software. A soft commercial PZT ceramic was used in this study and several shear plates amenable to material characterization were obtained in the range of aspect ratios below 15. The validity of the material properties for 3-D modeling of piezoceramics is assessed by means of finite element analysis, which shows that uncoupled resonances are virtually pure thickness-driven shear modes.

  10. Second-mode control in hypersonic boundary layers over assigned complex wall impedance

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sousa, Victor; Patel, Danish; Chapelier, Jean-Baptiste; Scalo, Carlo

    2017-11-01

    The durability and aerodynamic performance of hypersonic vehicles greatly relies on the ability to delay transition to turbulence. Passive aerodynamic flow control devices such as porous acoustic absorbers are a very attractive means to damp ultrasonic second-mode waves, which govern transition in hypersonic boundary layers under idealized flow conditions (smooth walls, slender geometries, small angles of attack). The talk will discuss numerical simulations modeling such absorbers via the time-domain impedance boundary condition (TD-IBC) approach by Scalo et al. in a hypersonic boundary layer flow over a 7-degree wedge at freestream Mach numbers M∞ = 7.3 and Reynolds numbers Rem = 1.46 .106 . A three-parameter impedance model tuned to the second-mode waves is tested first with varying resistance, R, and damping ratio, ζ, revealing complete mode attenuation for R < 20. A realistic IBC is then employed, derived via an inverse Helmholtz solver analysis of an ultrasonically absorbing carbon-fiber-reinforced carbon ceramic sample used in recent hypersonic transition experiments by Dr. Wagner and co-workers at DLR-Göttingen.

  11. Enhancement of Signal-to-noise Ratio in Natural-source Transient Magnetotelluric Data with Wavelet Transform

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zhang, Y.; Paulson, K. V.

    For audio-frequency magnetotelluric surveys where the signals are lightning-stroke transients, the conventional Fourier transform method often fails to produce a high quality impedance tensor. An alternative approach is to use the wavelet transform method which is capable of localizing target information simultaneously in both the temporal and frequency domains. Unlike Fourier analysis that yields an average amplitude and phase, the wavelet transform produces an instantaneous estimate of the amplitude and phase of a signal. In this paper a complex well-localized wavelet, the Morlet wavelet, has been used to transform and analyze audio-frequency magnetotelluric data. With the Morlet wavelet, the magnetotelluric impedance tensor can be computed directly in the wavelet transform domain. The lightning-stroke transients are easily identified on the dilation-translation plane. Choosing those wavelet transform values where the signals are located, a higher signal-to-noise ratio estimation of the impedance tensor can be obtained. In a test using real data, the wavelet transform showed a significant improvement in the signal-to-noise ratio over the conventional Fourier transform.

  12. Bioimpedance measurements of human body composition: critical analysis and outlook.

    PubMed

    Matthie, James R

    2008-03-01

    Bioimpedance spectroscopy represents one of the largest emerging medical device technologies. The method is generally known as impedance spectroscopy and is an inexpensive, yet extremely powerful, analytical technique for studying the electrical properties of materials. Much of what we know about biological cells and tissues comes from use of this technique in vitro. Due to the high impedance of the cell membrane, current flow through the cell is frequency dependent and this allows the fluid volume inside versus outside the body's cells to be determined. The fluid outside the cells is primarily related to fluid volume status while the intracellular fluid also relates to the body's cellular mass. Technical advances have removed much of the method's basic complexities. The first commercial bioimpedance spectroscopy device for in vivo human body composition studies was introduced in 1990. Major strides have been made and the method is now poised to enter mainstream clinical medicine but the field is only in its infancy. This paper attempts to fully describe the current use of impedance in the body composition field.

  13. Study of the Effect on Ionic Conductivity and Structral Morphology of the SR Doped Lanthanum Gallate Solid Electrolyte

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sood, Kapil; Singh, K.; Pandey, O. P.

    2013-07-01

    In the present study, lanthanum gallate and Sr-doped lanthanum gallate samples were prepared by conventional solid state reaction method. The phase conformation has been performed by using X-ray diffraction (XRD) study. The elemental composition has been confirmed using energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) analysis. Ac conductivity of the samples has been measured in the frequency range 0.1-106 Hz and from 50-800 °C. The impedance plots among real and complex impedances at particular temperature have been discussed. The behavior shows the effect of bulk and grain boundary effects of the doped sample. The impedance plots with frequency have been analyzed. The plots have been well fitted to equivalent circuit model. The conductivity shows the Arrhenius type of behavior. The activation energy has been calculated from the plots and represents that the conductivity through the material is mainly ionic. The structural morphology of the samples has been investigated using scanning electron microscope (SEM). The micrograph shows that the porosity and grain size both decreases with Sr-doping.

  14. Single cell array impedance analysis in a microfluidic device

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Altinagac, Emre; Taskin, Selen; Kizil, Huseyin

    2016-10-01

    Impedance analysis of single cells is presented in this paper. Following the separation of a target cell type by dielectrophoresis in our previous work, this paper focuses on capturing the cells as a single array and performing impedance analysis to point out the signature difference between each cell type. Lab-on-a-chip devices having a titanium interdigitated electrode layer on a glass substrate and a PDMS microchannel are fabricated to capture each cell in a single form and perform impedance analysis. HCT116 (homosapiens colon colorectal carcin) and HEK293 (human embryonic kidney) cells are used in our experiments.

  15. Image Reconstruction Under Contact Impedance Effect in Micro Electrical Impedance Tomography Sensors.

    PubMed

    Liu, Xiayi; Yao, Jiafeng; Zhao, Tong; Obara, Hiromichi; Cui, Yahui; Takei, Masahiro

    2018-06-01

    Contact impedance has an important effect on micro electrical impedance tomography (EIT) sensors compared to conventional macro sensors. In the present work, a complex contact impedance effect ratio ξ is defined to quantitatively evaluate the effect of the contact impedance on the accuracy of the reconstructed images by micro EIT. Quality of the reconstructed image under various ξ is estimated by the phantom simulation to find the optimum algorithm. The generalized vector sampled pattern matching (GVSPM) method reveals the best image quality and the best tolerance to ξ. Moreover, the images of yeast cells sedimentary distribution in a multilayered microchannel are reconstructed by the GVSPM method under various mean magnitudes of contact impedance effect ratio |ξ|. The result shows that the best image quality that has the smallest voltage error U E = 0.581 is achieved with measurement frequency f = 1 MHz and mean magnitude |ξ| = 26. In addition, the reconstructed images of cells distribution become improper while f < 10 kHz and mean value of |ξ| > 2400.

  16. A Computer Aided Broad Band Impedance Matching Technique Using a Comparison Reflectometer. Ph.D. Thesis

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Gordy, R. S.

    1972-01-01

    An improved broadband impedance matching technique was developed. The technique is capable of resolving points in the waveguide which generate reflected energy. A version of the comparison reflectometer was developed and fabricated to determine the mean amplitude of the reflection coefficient excited at points in the guide as a function of distance, and the complex reflection coefficient of a specific discontinuity in the guide as a function of frequency. An impedance matching computer program was developed which is capable of impedance matching the characteristics of each disturbance independent of other reflections in the guide. The characteristics of four standard matching elements were compiled, and their associated curves of reflection coefficient and shunt susceptance as a function of frequency are presented. It is concluded that an economical, fast, and reliable impedance matching technique has been established which can provide broadband impedance matches.

  17. Combined Dielectrophoresis and Impedance Systems for Bacteria Analysis in Microfluidic On-Chip Platforms

    PubMed Central

    Páez-Avilés, Cristina; Juanola-Feliu, Esteve; Punter-Villagrasa, Jaime; del Moral Zamora, Beatriz; Homs-Corbera, Antoni; Colomer-Farrarons, Jordi; Miribel-Català, Pere Lluís; Samitier, Josep

    2016-01-01

    Bacteria concentration and detection is time-consuming in regular microbiology procedures aimed to facilitate the detection and analysis of these cells at very low concentrations. Traditional methods are effective but often require several days to complete. This scenario results in low bioanalytical and diagnostic methodologies with associated increased costs and complexity. In recent years, the exploitation of the intrinsic electrical properties of cells has emerged as an appealing alternative approach for concentrating and detecting bacteria. The combination of dielectrophoresis (DEP) and impedance analysis (IA) in microfluidic on-chip platforms could be key to develop rapid, accurate, portable, simple-to-use and cost-effective microfluidic devices with a promising impact in medicine, public health, agricultural, food control and environmental areas. The present document reviews recent DEP and IA combined approaches and the latest relevant improvements focusing on bacteria concentration and detection, including selectivity, sensitivity, detection time, and conductivity variation enhancements. Furthermore, this review analyses future trends and challenges which need to be addressed in order to successfully commercialize these platforms resulting in an adequate social return of public-funded investments. PMID:27649201

  18. Electrochemical analysis of gold-coated magnetic nanoparticles for detecting immunological interaction

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Pham, Thao Thi-Hien; Sim, Sang Jun

    2010-01-01

    An electrochemical impedance immunosensor was developed for detecting the immunological interaction between human immunoglobulin (IgG) and protein A from Staphylococcus aureus based on the immobilization of human IgG on the surface of modified gold-coated magnetic nanoparticles. The nanoparticles with an Au shell and Fe oxide cores were functionalized by a self-assembled monolayer of 11-mercaptoundecanoic acid. The electrochemical analysis was conducted on the modified magnetic carbon paste electrodes with the nanoparticles. The magnetic nanoparticles were attached to the surface of the magnetic carbon paste electrodes via magnetic force. The cyclic voltammetry technique and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements of the magnetic carbon paste electrodes coated with magnetic nanoparticles-human IgG complex showed changes in its alternating current (AC) response both after the modification of the surface of the electrode and the addition of protein A. The immunological interaction between human IgG on the surface of the modified magnetic carbon paste electrodes and protein A in the solution could be successfully monitored.

  19. Equivalent circuit-based analysis of CMUT cell dynamics in arrays.

    PubMed

    Oguz, H K; Atalar, Abdullah; Köymen, Hayrettin

    2013-05-01

    Capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducers (CMUTs) are usually composed of large arrays of closely packed cells. In this work, we use an equivalent circuit model to analyze CMUT arrays with multiple cells. We study the effects of mutual acoustic interactions through the immersion medium caused by the pressure field generated by each cell acting upon the others. To do this, all the cells in the array are coupled through a radiation impedance matrix at their acoustic terminals. An accurate approximation for the mutual radiation impedance is defined between two circular cells, which can be used in large arrays to reduce computational complexity. Hence, a performance analysis of CMUT arrays can be accurately done with a circuit simulator. By using the proposed model, one can very rapidly obtain the linear frequency and nonlinear transient responses of arrays with an arbitrary number of CMUT cells. We performed several finite element method (FEM) simulations for arrays with small numbers of cells and showed that the results are very similar to those obtained by the equivalent circuit model.

  20. Entrance and Exit CSR Impedance for Non-Ultrarelativistic Beam

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Li, Rui; Tsai, Cheng Ying

    2017-05-01

    For a high-brightness electron beam being transported through beamlines involving bending systems, the coherent synchrotron radiation (CSR) and longitudinal space charge (LSC) interaction could often cause microbunching instability. The semi-analytical Vlasov solver for microbunching gain* depends on the impedances for the relevant collective effects. The existing results for CSR impedances are usually obtained for the ultrarelativistic limit. To extend the microbunching analysis to cases of low energies, such as the case of an ERL merger, or to density modulations at extremely small wavelength, it is necessary to extend the impedance analysis to the non-ultrarelativistic regime. In this study, we presentmore » the impedance analysis for the transient CSR interaction in the non-ultrarelativistic regime, for transients including both entrance to and exit from a magnetic dipole. These impedance results will be compared to their ultra-relativistic counterparts**, and the corresponding wakefield obtained from the impedance for low-energy beams will be compared with the existing results of transient CSR wakefield for general beam energies***.« less

  1. Analyses of radiation impedances of finite cylindrical ducts

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Shao, W.; Mechefske, C. K.

    2005-08-01

    To aid in understanding the characteristics of acoustic radiation from finite cylindrical ducts with infinite flanges, mathematical expressions of generalized radiation impedances at the open ends have been developed. Newton's method is used to find the complex wavenumbers of radial modes for the absorption boundary condition. The self-radiation impedances and mutual impedances for some acoustic modes are calculated for the ducts with rigid and absorption walls. The results show that the acoustical conditions of the duct walls have a significant influence on the radiation impedance. The acoustical interaction between the two open ends of the ducts cannot be neglected, especially for plane waves. To increase the wall admittance will reduce this interference effect. This study creates the possibility for simulating the sound field inside finite ducts in future work.

  2. In vitro analysis of various cell lines responses to electroporative electric pulses by means of electrical impedance spectroscopy.

    PubMed

    García-Sánchez, Tomás; Bragós, Ramon; Mir, Lluis M

    2018-06-07

    This paper reports the comparative analysis, by means of electric impedance spectroscopy measurements, of three different cell lines subjected to electroporative pulses. The multifrequency information is recorded simultaneously at 21 frequency values in the range between 5 kHz and 1.3 MHz using a multisine based measuring approach. The analysis of the pre-electroporation impedance spectra shows how the system is able to detect differences and similarities between the cell lines under analysis. Particularly, a good agreement is found between the average cell diameter and the characteristic frequency (the frequency corresponding to a maximum in the imaginary part of the impedance). The measurements performed during electroporation at three different electric field intensities show how the impedance spectra changes dynamically between the consecutive pulses of a train of 8,100 µs pulses delivered at 1 Hz repetition rate. There are clear differences between the changes in the impedance measured at low and high frequency. The multifrequency information has been fitted to an electrical equivalent model in order to understand the different contributions in the observed impedance changes (mainly separate between membrane permeabilization and the conductivity changes in the extracellular medium). Finally, a ratio of the low and high frequency impedance information is used to estimate the accumulated impedance decay and to compare it to the internalization of a fluorescent permeabilization reporter. The comparison between both techniques at the three electroporation electric field intensities assayed confirms the ability of impedance measurements to detect in a precise way the level of membrane permeabilization. Additionally, this study demonstrates how the real time information obtained thanks to impedance measurements can provide a more precise quantification of the membrane permeabilization extent. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  3. [Integral obstetrics impeded by history? Midwives and gynaecologists through the ages].

    PubMed

    van der Lee, N; Scheele, F

    2016-01-01

    There is a long and complicated history concerning the interprofessional collaboration between midwives and gynaecologists, which is still evident in current practice. Yet, in the analysis of collaborative problems, history and its lessons are often overlooked. Consequently, less effective solutions to problems may be found, because the root cause of a problem is not addressed. In this historical perspective we show how policies of the respective professions have often focused on self-preservation and competition, rather than on effective collaboration. We also highlight how the independent midwives lost and regained authorisation, status and income. Finally, using a theoretical model for interprofessional collaboration, we reflect on where history impedes the development of integral obstetrics. The focus must be averted away from professional self-interest and power struggles, but this proves to be a complex exercise.

  4. Nondestructive assessment of waveguides using an integrated electromechanical impedance and ultrasonic waves approach

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Nasrollahi, Amir; Ma, Zhaoyun; Rizzo, Piervincenzo

    2017-04-01

    In this paper we present a structural health monitoring (SHM) paradigm based on the simultaneous use of ultrasounds and electromechanical impedance (EMI) to monitor waveguides. The paradigm uses guided ultrasonic waves (GUWs) in pitch-catch mode and EMI simultaneously. The two methodologies are driven by the same sensing/hardware/software unit. To assess the feasibility of this unified system an aluminum plate was monitored for varying damage location. Damage was simulated by adding small masses to the plate. The results associated with pitch-catch GUW testing mode were used in ultrasonic tomography, and statistical analysis was used to detect the damages using the EMI measurements. The results of GUW and EMI monitoring show that the proposed system is robust and can be developed further to address the challenges associated with the SHM of complex structures.

  5. Impedance spectroscopy measurements as a tool for distinguishing different luminal content during bolus transit studies.

    PubMed

    Ruiz-Vargas, A; Mohd Rosli, R; Ivorra, A; Arkwright, J W

    2018-01-08

    Intraluminal electrical impedance is a well-known diagnostic tool used to study bolus movement in the human esophagus. However, it is use in the human colon it is hindered by the fact that the content cannot be controlled and may include liquid, gas, solid, or a mixture of these at any one time. This article investigates the use of complex impedance spectroscopy to study different luminal content (liquid and gas). An excised section of guinea pig proximal colon was placed in an organ bath with Krebs solution at 37°C and a custom built bioimpedance catheter was placed in the lumen. Liquid (Krebs) and gas (air) content was pumped through the lumen and the intraluminal impedance was measured at five different frequencies (1, 5.6, 31.6, 177.18 kHz and 1 MHz) at 10 samples per second. A numerical model was created to model the passage of bolus with different content and compared to the experimental data. Differences in mean impedance magnitude and phase angle were found (from 1 to 177.18 kHz) for different contents. The numerical results qualitatively agreed with those in the experimental study. Conductivities of bolus had an effect on detecting its passage. Complex impedance spectroscopy can distinguish between different luminal content within a range of measuring frequencies. The numerical model showed the importance of bolus conductivities for bolus transit studies in those where the bolus is controlled. © 2018 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

  6. Stochastic estimation of human shoulder impedance with robots: an experimental design.

    PubMed

    Park, Kyungbin; Chang, Pyung Hun

    2011-01-01

    Previous studies assumed the shoulder as a hinge joint during human arm impedance measurement. This is obviously a vast simplification since the shoulder is a complex of several joints with multiple degrees of freedom. In the present work, a practical methodology for more general and realistic estimation of human shoulder impedance is proposed and validated with a spring array. It includes a gravity compensation scheme, which is developed and used for the experiments with a spatial three degrees of freedom PUMA-type robot. The experimental results were accurate and reliable, and thus it has shown a strong potential of the proposed methodology in the estimation of human shoulder impedance. © 2011 IEEE

  7. Impedance analysis of acupuncture points and pathways

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Teplan, Michal; Kukučka, Marek; Ondrejkovičová, Alena

    2011-12-01

    Investigation of impedance characteristics of acupuncture points from acoustic to radio frequency range is addressed. Discernment and localization of acupuncture points in initial single subject study was unsuccessfully attempted by impedance map technique. Vector impedance analyses determined possible resonant zones in MHz region.

  8. Human ribonuclease H1 resolves R-loops and thereby enables progression of the DNA replication fork.

    PubMed

    Parajuli, Shankar; Teasley, Daniel C; Murali, Bhavna; Jackson, Jessica; Vindigni, Alessandro; Stewart, Sheila A

    2017-09-15

    Faithful DNA replication is essential for genome stability. To ensure accurate replication, numerous complex and redundant replication and repair mechanisms function in tandem with the core replication proteins to ensure DNA replication continues even when replication challenges are present that could impede progression of the replication fork. A unique topological challenge to the replication machinery is posed by RNA-DNA hybrids, commonly referred to as R-loops. Although R-loops play important roles in gene expression and recombination at immunoglobulin sites, their persistence is thought to interfere with DNA replication by slowing or impeding replication fork progression. Therefore, it is of interest to identify DNA-associated enzymes that help resolve replication-impeding R-loops. Here, using DNA fiber analysis, we demonstrate that human ribonuclease H1 (RNH1) plays an important role in replication fork movement in the mammalian nucleus by resolving R-loops. We found that RNH1 depletion results in accumulation of RNA-DNA hybrids, slowing of replication forks, and increased DNA damage. Our data uncovered a role for RNH1 in global DNA replication in the mammalian nucleus. Because accumulation of RNA-DNA hybrids is linked to various human cancers and neurodegenerative disorders, our study raises the possibility that replication fork progression might be impeded, adding to increased genomic instability and contributing to disease. © 2017 by The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc.

  9. Radiation and scattering by thin-wire structures in the complex frequency domain. [electromagnetic theory for thin-wire antennas

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Richmond, J. H.

    1974-01-01

    Piecewise-sinusoidal expansion functions and Galerkin's method are employed to formulate a solution for an arbitrary thin-wire configuration in a homogeneous conducting medium. The analysis is performed in the real or complex frequency domain. In antenna problems, the solution determines the current distribution, impedance, radiation efficiency, gain and far-field patterns. In scattering problems, the solution determines the absorption cross section, scattering cross section and the polarization scattering matrix. The electromagnetic theory is presented for thin wires and the forward-scattering theorem is developed for an arbitrary target in a homogeneous conducting medium.

  10. Tracking of electrochemical impedance of batteries

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Piret, H.; Granjon, P.; Guillet, N.; Cattin, V.

    2016-04-01

    This paper presents an evolutionary battery impedance estimation method, which can be easily embedded in vehicles or nomad devices. The proposed method not only allows an accurate frequency impedance estimation, but also a tracking of its temporal evolution contrary to classical electrochemical impedance spectroscopy methods. Taking into account constraints of cost and complexity, we propose to use the existing electronics of current control to perform a frequency evolutionary estimation of the electrochemical impedance. The developed method uses a simple wideband input signal, and relies on a recursive local average of Fourier transforms. The averaging is controlled by a single parameter, managing a trade-off between tracking and estimation performance. This normalized parameter allows to correctly adapt the behavior of the proposed estimator to the variations of the impedance. The advantage of the proposed method is twofold: the method is easy to embed into a simple electronic circuit, and the battery impedance estimator is evolutionary. The ability of the method to monitor the impedance over time is demonstrated on a simulator, and on a real Lithium ion battery, on which a repeatability study is carried out. The experiments reveal good tracking results, and estimation performance as accurate as the usual laboratory approaches.

  11. Bioelectrical impedance analysis for bovine milk: Preliminary results

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Bertemes-Filho, P.; Valicheski, R.; Pereira, R. M.; Paterno, A. S.

    2010-04-01

    This work reports the investigation and analysis of bovine milk quality by using biological impedance measurements using electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The samples were distinguished by a first chemical analysis using Fourier transform midinfrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and flow citometry. A set of milk samples (100ml each) obtained from 17 different cows in lactation with and without mastitis were analyzed with the proposed technique using EIS. The samples were adulterated by adding distilled water and hydrogen peroxide in a controlled manner. FTIR spectroscopy and flow cytometry were performed, and impedance measurements were made in a frequency range from 500Hz up to 1MHz with an implemented EIS system. The system's phase shift was compensated by measuring saline solutions. It was possible to show that the results obtained with the Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA) technique may detect changes in the milk caused by mastitis and the presence of water and hydrogen peroxide in the bovine milk.

  12. Mechanical Impedance of the Human Body in the Horizontal Direction

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Holmlund, P.; Lundström, R.

    1998-08-01

    The mechanical impedance of the seated human body in horizontal directions (fore-and-aft and lateral) was measured during different experimental conditions, such as vibration level (0·25-1·4 m/s2r.m.s.), frequency (1·13-80 Hz), body weight (54-93 kg), upper body posture (relaxed and erect) and gender. The outcome showed that impedance, normalized by the sitting weight, varies with direction, level, posture and gender. Generally the impedance spectra show one peak for the fore-and-aft (X) direction while two peaks are found in the lateral (Y) direction. Males showed a lower normalized impedance than females. Increasing fore-and-aft vibration decreases the frequency at which maximum impedance occurs but also reduces the overall magnitude. For the lateral direction a more complex pattern was found. The frequency of impedance peaks are constant with increasing vibration level. The magnitude of the second peak decreases when changing posture from erect to relaxed. Males showed a higher impedance magnitude than females and a greater dip between the two peaks. The impedance spectra for the two horizontal directions have different shapes. This supports the idea of treating them differently; such as with respect to risk assessments and development of preventative measures.

  13. Note: Rapid offset reduction of impedance bridges taking into account instrumental damping and phase shifting.

    PubMed

    van der Wel, C M; Kortschot, R J; Bakelaar, I A; Erné, B H; Kuipers, B W M

    2013-03-01

    The sensitivity of an imperfectly balanced impedance bridge is limited by the remaining offset voltage. Here, we present a procedure for offset reduction in impedance measurements using a lock-in amplifier, by applying a complex compensating voltage external to the bridge. This procedure takes into account instrumental damping and phase shifting, which generally occur at the high end of the operational frequency range. Measurements demonstrate that the output of the circuit rapidly converges to the instrumentally limited noise at any frequency.

  14. Smart Multi-Frequency Bioelectrical Impedance Spectrometer for BIA and BIVA Applications.

    PubMed

    Harder, Rene; Diedrich, Andre; Whitfield, Jonathan S; Buchowski, Macie S; Pietsch, John B; Baudenbacher, Franz J

    2016-08-01

    Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) is a noninvasive and commonly used method for the assessment of body composition including body water. We designed a small, portable and wireless multi-frequency impedance spectrometer based on the 12 bit impedance network analyzer AD5933 and a precision wide-band constant current source for tetrapolar whole body impedance measurements. The impedance spectrometer communicates via Bluetooth with mobile devices (smart phone or tablet computer) that provide user interface for patient management and data visualization. The export of patient measurement results into a clinical research database facilitates the aggregation of bioelectrical impedance analysis and biolectrical impedance vector analysis (BIVA) data across multiple subjects and/or studies. The performance of the spectrometer was evaluated using a passive tissue equivalent circuit model as well as a comparison of body composition changes assessed with bioelectrical impedance and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) in healthy volunteers. Our results show an absolute error of 1% for resistance and 5% for reactance measurements in the frequency range of 3 kHz to 150 kHz. A linear regression of BIA and DXA fat mass estimations showed a strong correlation (r(2)=0.985) between measures with a maximum absolute error of 6.5%. The simplicity of BIA measurements, a cost effective design and the simple visual representation of impedance data enables patients to compare and determine body composition during the time course of a specific treatment plan in a clinical or home environment.

  15. cAmp activation of apical membrane Cl(-) channels: theoretical considerations for impedance analysis.

    PubMed Central

    Păunescu, T G; Helman, S I

    2001-01-01

    Transepithelial electrical impedance analysis provides a sensitive method to evaluate the conductances and capacitances of apical and basolateral plasma membranes of epithelial cells. Impedance analysis is complicated, due not only to the anatomical arrangement of the cells and their paracellular shunt pathways, but also in particular to the existence of audio frequency-dependent capacitances or dispersions. In this paper we explore implications and consequences of anatomically related Maxwell-Wagner and Cole-Cole dielectric dispersions that impose limitations, approximations, and pitfalls of impedance analysis when tissues are studied under widely ranging spontaneous rates of transport, and in particular when apical membrane sodium and chloride channels are activated by adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) in A6 epithelia. We develop the thesis that capacitive relaxation processes of any origin lead not only to dependence on frequency of the impedance locus, but also to the appearance of depressed semicircles in Nyquist transepithelial impedance plots, regardless of the tightness or leakiness of the paracellular shunt pathways. Frequency dependence of capacitance precludes analysis of data in traditional ways, where capacitance is assumed constant, and is especially important when apical and/or basolateral membranes exhibit one or more dielectric dispersions. PMID:11463629

  16. The Frequency Spectral Properties of Electrode-Skin Contact Impedance on Human Head and Its Frequency-Dependent Effects on Frequency-Difference EIT in Stroke Detection from 10Hz to 1MHz.

    PubMed

    Yang, Lin; Dai, Meng; Xu, Canhua; Zhang, Ge; Li, Weichen; Fu, Feng; Shi, Xuetao; Dong, Xiuzhen

    2017-01-01

    Frequency-difference electrical impedance tomography (fdEIT) reconstructs frequency-dependent changes of a complex impedance distribution. It has a potential application in acute stroke detection because there are significant differences in impedance spectra between stroke lesions and normal brain tissues. However, fdEIT suffers from the influences of electrode-skin contact impedance since contact impedance varies greatly with frequency. When using fdEIT to detect stroke, it is critical to know the degree of measurement errors or image artifacts caused by contact impedance. To our knowledge, no study has systematically investigated the frequency spectral properties of electrode-skin contact impedance on human head and its frequency-dependent effects on fdEIT used in stroke detection within a wide frequency band (10 Hz-1 MHz). In this study, we first measured and analyzed the frequency spectral properties of electrode-skin contact impedance on 47 human subjects' heads within 10 Hz-1 MHz. Then, we quantified the frequency-dependent effects of contact impedance on fdEIT in stroke detection in terms of the current distribution beneath the electrodes and the contact impedance imbalance between two measuring electrodes. The results showed that the contact impedance at high frequencies (>100 kHz) significantly changed the current distribution beneath the electrode, leading to nonnegligible errors in boundary voltages and artifacts in reconstructed images. The contact impedance imbalance at low frequencies (<1 kHz) also caused significant measurement errors. We conclude that the contact impedance has critical frequency-dependent influences on fdEIT and further studies on reducing such influences are necessary to improve the application of fdEIT in stroke detection.

  17. The Frequency Spectral Properties of Electrode-Skin Contact Impedance on Human Head and Its Frequency-Dependent Effects on Frequency-Difference EIT in Stroke Detection from 10Hz to 1MHz

    PubMed Central

    Zhang, Ge; Li, Weichen; Fu, Feng; Shi, Xuetao; Dong, Xiuzhen

    2017-01-01

    Frequency-difference electrical impedance tomography (fdEIT) reconstructs frequency-dependent changes of a complex impedance distribution. It has a potential application in acute stroke detection because there are significant differences in impedance spectra between stroke lesions and normal brain tissues. However, fdEIT suffers from the influences of electrode-skin contact impedance since contact impedance varies greatly with frequency. When using fdEIT to detect stroke, it is critical to know the degree of measurement errors or image artifacts caused by contact impedance. To our knowledge, no study has systematically investigated the frequency spectral properties of electrode-skin contact impedance on human head and its frequency-dependent effects on fdEIT used in stroke detection within a wide frequency band (10 Hz-1 MHz). In this study, we first measured and analyzed the frequency spectral properties of electrode-skin contact impedance on 47 human subjects’ heads within 10 Hz-1 MHz. Then, we quantified the frequency-dependent effects of contact impedance on fdEIT in stroke detection in terms of the current distribution beneath the electrodes and the contact impedance imbalance between two measuring electrodes. The results showed that the contact impedance at high frequencies (>100 kHz) significantly changed the current distribution beneath the electrode, leading to nonnegligible errors in boundary voltages and artifacts in reconstructed images. The contact impedance imbalance at low frequencies (<1 kHz) also caused significant measurement errors. We conclude that the contact impedance has critical frequency-dependent influences on fdEIT and further studies on reducing such influences are necessary to improve the application of fdEIT in stroke detection. PMID:28107524

  18. Dynamic Primitives of Motor Behavior

    PubMed Central

    Hogan, Neville; Sternad, Dagmar

    2013-01-01

    We present in outline a theory of sensorimotor control based on dynamic primitives, which we define as attractors. To account for the broad class of human interactive behaviors—especially tool use—we propose three distinct primitives: submovements, oscillations and mechanical impedances, the latter necessary for interaction with objects. Due to fundamental features of the neuromuscular system, most notably its slow response, we argue that encoding in terms of parameterized primitives may be an essential simplification required for learning, performance, and retention of complex skills. Primitives may simultaneously and sequentially be combined to produce observable forces and motions. This may be achieved by defining a virtual trajectory composed of submovements and/or oscillations interacting with impedances. Identifying primitives requires care: in principle, overlapping submovements would be sufficient to compose all observed movements but biological evidence shows that oscillations are a distinct primitive. Conversely, we suggest that kinematic synergies, frequently discussed as primitives of complex actions, may be an emergent consequence of neuromuscular impedance. To illustrate how these dynamic primitives may account for complex actions, we briefly review three types of interactive behaviors: constrained motion, impact tasks, and manipulation of dynamic objects. PMID:23124919

  19. Rapid spread of complex change: a case study in inpatient palliative care.

    PubMed

    Della Penna, Richard; Martel, Helene; Neuwirth, Esther B; Rice, Jennifer; Filipski, Marta I; Green, Jennifer; Bellows, Jim

    2009-12-29

    Based on positive findings from a randomized controlled trial, Kaiser Permanente's national executive leadership group set an expectation that all Kaiser Permanente and partner hospitals would implement a consultative model of interdisciplinary, inpatient-based palliative care (IPC). Within one year, the number of IPC consultations program-wide increased almost tenfold from baseline, and the number of teams nearly doubled. We report here results from a qualitative evaluation of the IPC initiative after a year of implementation; our purpose was to understand factors supporting or impeding the rapid and consistent spread of a complex program. Quality improvement study using a case study design and qualitative analysis of in-depth semi-structured interviews with 36 national, regional, and local leaders. Compelling evidence of impacts on patient satisfaction and quality of care generated 'pull' among adopters, expressed as a remarkably high degree of conviction about the value of the model. Broad leadership agreement gave rise to sponsorship and support that permeated the organization. A robust social network promoted knowledge exchange and built on an existing network with a strong interest in palliative care. Resource constraints, pre-existing programs of a different model, and ambiguous accountability for implementation impeded spread. A complex, hospital-based, interdisciplinary intervention in a large health care organization spread rapidly due to a synergy between organizational 'push' strategies and grassroots-level pull. The combination of push and pull may be especially important when the organizational context or the practice to be spread is complex.

  20. Uncertainty Analysis of the Grazing Flow Impedance Tube

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Brown, Martha C.; Jones, Michael G.; Watson, Willie R.

    2012-01-01

    This paper outlines a methodology to identify the measurement uncertainty of NASA Langley s Grazing Flow Impedance Tube (GFIT) over its operating range, and to identify the parameters that most significantly contribute to the acoustic impedance prediction. Two acoustic liners are used for this study. The first is a single-layer, perforate-over-honeycomb liner that is nonlinear with respect to sound pressure level. The second consists of a wire-mesh facesheet and a honeycomb core, and is linear with respect to sound pressure level. These liners allow for evaluation of the effects of measurement uncertainty on impedances educed with linear and nonlinear liners. In general, the measurement uncertainty is observed to be larger for the nonlinear liners, with the largest uncertainty occurring near anti-resonance. A sensitivity analysis of the aerodynamic parameters (Mach number, static temperature, and static pressure) used in the impedance eduction process is also conducted using a Monte-Carlo approach. This sensitivity analysis demonstrates that the impedance eduction process is virtually insensitive to each of these parameters.

  1. Experimental investigation of microwave interaction with magnetoplasma in miniature multipolar configuration using impedance measurements

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Dey, Indranuj, E-mail: indranuj@aees.kyushu-u.ac.jp; Toyoda, Yuji; Yamamoto, Naoji

    2014-09-15

    A miniature microwave plasma source employing both radial and axial magnetic fields for plasma confinement has been developed for micro-propulsion applications. Plasma is initiated by launching microwaves via a short monopole antenna to circumvent geometrical cutoff limitations. The amplitude and phase of the forward and reflected microwave power is measured to obtain the complex reflection coefficient from which the equivalent impedance of the plasma source is determined. Effect of critical plasma density condition is reflected in the measurements and provides insight into the working of the miniature plasma source. A basic impedance calculation model is developed to help in understandingmore » the experimental observations. From experiment and theory, it is seen that the equivalent impedance magnitude is controlled by the coaxial discharge boundary conditions, and the phase is influenced primarily by the plasma immersed antenna impedance.« less

  2. Digital synthetic impedance for application in vibration damping.

    PubMed

    Nečásek, J; Václavík, J; Marton, P

    2016-02-01

    In this work we present construction details of a precision, standalone, and compact digital synthetic impedance for application in the field of vibration damping. The presented device is based on an embedded ARM microcontroller with external AD and DA converters and a special analog front-end. The performance of the device is tested by comparing the actually synthesized impedance with several prescribed impedances and shows very good match. Fine-tuning ability of the device, which is crucial for the considered application, is also demonstrated and reaches as small step as 0.1% for the most complicated impedance structure and drops below the level of direct measurability with less complex structures. The real application in vibration damping is demonstrated on a simple and well understood case of a one-dimensional vibrating spring-mass system with piezoelectric actuator embedded as the interface between source of vibrations and vibrating mass.

  3. Digital synthetic impedance for application in vibration damping

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Nečásek, J.; Václavík, J.; Marton, P.

    2016-02-01

    In this work we present construction details of a precision, standalone, and compact digital synthetic impedance for application in the field of vibration damping. The presented device is based on an embedded ARM microcontroller with external AD and DA converters and a special analog front-end. The performance of the device is tested by comparing the actually synthesized impedance with several prescribed impedances and shows very good match. Fine-tuning ability of the device, which is crucial for the considered application, is also demonstrated and reaches as small step as 0.1% for the most complicated impedance structure and drops below the level of direct measurability with less complex structures. The real application in vibration damping is demonstrated on a simple and well understood case of a one-dimensional vibrating spring-mass system with piezoelectric actuator embedded as the interface between source of vibrations and vibrating mass.

  4. Effect of distributive mass of spring on power flow in engineering test

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sheng, Meiping; Wang, Ting; Wang, Minqing; Wang, Xiao; Zhao, Xuan

    2018-06-01

    Mass of spring is always neglected in theoretical and simulative analysis, while it may be a significance in practical engineering. This paper is concerned with the distributive mass of a steel spring which is used as an isolator to simulate isolation performance of a water pipe in a heating system. Theoretical derivation of distributive mass effect of steel spring on vibration is presented, and multiple eigenfrequencies are obtained, which manifest that distributive mass results in extra modes and complex impedance properties. Furthermore, numerical simulation visually shows several anti-resonances of the steel spring corresponding to impedance and power flow curves. When anti-resonances emerge, the spring collects large energy which may cause damage and unexpected consequences in practical engineering and needs to be avoided. Finally, experimental tests are conducted and results show consistency with that of the simulation of the spring with distributive mass.

  5. Assimilation of NH₄Br in Polyvinyl Alcohol/Poly(N-vinyl pyrrolidone) Polymer Blend-Based Electrolyte and Its Effect on Ionic Conductivity.

    PubMed

    Parameswaran, V; Nallamuthu, N; Devendran, P; Manikandan, A; Nagarajan, E R

    2018-06-01

    Biodegradable polymer blend electrolyte based on ammonium based salt in variation composition consisting of PVA:PVP were prepared by using solution casting technique. The obtained films have been analyzed by various technical methods like as XRD, FT-IR, TG-DSC, SEM analysis and impedance spectroscopy. The XRD and FT-IR analysis exposed the amorphous nature and structural properties of the complex formation between PVA/PVP/NH4Br. Impedance spectroscopy analysis revealed the ionic conductivity and the dielectric properties of PVA/PVP/NH4Br polymer blend electrolyte films. The maximum ionic conductivity was determined to be 6.14 × 10-5 Scm-1 for the composition of 50%PVA: 50%PVP: 10% NH4Br with low activation energy 0.3457 eV at room temperature. Solid state battery is fabricated using highest ionic conducting polymer blend as electrolyte with the configuration Zn/ZnSO4 · 7H2O (anode) ∥ 50%PVA: 50%PVP: 10% NH4Br ∥ Mn2O3 (cathode). The observed open circuit voltage is 1.2 V and its performance has been studied.

  6. The Influence of Segmental Impedance Analysis in Predicting Validity of Consumer Grade Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis Devices

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sharp, Andy; Heath, Jennifer; Peterson, Janet

    2008-05-01

    Consumer grade bioelectric impedance analysis (BIA) instruments measure the body's impedance at 50 kHz, and yield a quick estimate of percent body fat. The frequency dependence of the impedance gives more information about the current pathway and the response of different tissues. This study explores the impedance response of human tissue at a range of frequencies from 0.2 - 102 kHz using a four probe method and probe locations standard for segmental BIA research of the arm. The data at 50 kHz, for a 21 year old healthy Caucasian male (resistance of 180φ±10 and reactance of 33φ±2) is in agreement with previously reported values [1]. The frequency dependence is not consistent with simple circuit models commonly used in evaluating BIA data, and repeatability of measurements is problematic. This research will contribute to a better understanding of the inherent difficulties in estimating body fat using consumer grade BIA devices. [1] Chumlea, William C., Richard N. Baumgartner, and Alex F. Roche. ``Specific resistivity used to estimate fat-free mass from segmental body measures of bioelectrical impedance.'' Am J Clin Nutr 48 (1998): 7-15.

  7. Damage Diagnosis in Semiconductive Materials Using Electrical Impedance Measurements

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Ross, Richard W.; Hinton, Yolanda L.

    2008-01-01

    Recent aerospace industry trends have resulted in an increased demand for real-time, effective techniques for in-flight structural health monitoring. A promising technique for damage diagnosis uses electrical impedance measurements of semiconductive materials. By applying a small electrical current into a material specimen and measuring the corresponding voltages at various locations on the specimen, changes in the electrical characteristics due to the presence of damage can be assessed. An artificial neural network uses these changes in electrical properties to provide an inverse solution that estimates the location and magnitude of the damage. The advantage of the electrical impedance method over other damage diagnosis techniques is that it uses the material as the sensor. Simple voltage measurements can be used instead of discrete sensors, resulting in a reduction in weight and system complexity. This research effort extends previous work by employing finite element method models to improve accuracy of complex models with anisotropic conductivities and by enhancing the computational efficiency of the inverse techniques. The paper demonstrates a proof of concept of a damage diagnosis approach using electrical impedance methods and a neural network as an effective tool for in-flight diagnosis of structural damage to aircraft components.

  8. Structural and impedance spectroscopy properties of La0.8Ba0.1Ca0.1Mn1-xRuxO3 perovskites

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Chebaane, M.; Talbi, N.; Dhahri, A.; Oumezzine, M.; Khirouni, K.

    2017-03-01

    Polycrystalline samples La0.8Ba0.1Ca0.1Mn1-xRuxO3 (x=0 and 0.075) were prepared by sol-gel-based Pechini method. The X ray diffraction study has shown that all the samples exhibit a single phase with rhombohedral structure (space group R 3 ̅c, no. 167). The complex impedance has been investigated in the temperature range 160-320 K and in the frequency range 40 Hz-1 MHz. The imaginary part of the complex impedance (Z‧‧) frequency dependence revealed one relaxation peak. The Cole-Cole plots of the impedance values exhibited a semi -circular arc that can be described by an R1+(R2//ZCPE) electrical equivalent circuit. The conductance spectra have been investigated by the Jonscher universal power law: G(ω)=GDC+Aωn, where ω is the frequency of the ac field, and n is the exponent. The activation energy obtained both from the conductance and from time relaxation analyses are very similar, and hence the relaxation process may be attributed to the same type of charge carriers.

  9. Electrochemical Impedance Imaging via the Distribution of Diffusion Times

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Song, Juhyun; Bazant, Martin Z.

    2018-03-01

    We develop a mathematical framework to analyze electrochemical impedance spectra in terms of a distribution of diffusion times (DDT) for a parallel array of random finite-length Warburg (diffusion) or Gerischer (reaction-diffusion) circuit elements. A robust DDT inversion method is presented based on complex nonlinear least squares regression with Tikhonov regularization and illustrated for three cases of nanostructured electrodes for energy conversion: (i) a carbon nanotube supercapacitor, (ii) a silicon nanowire Li-ion battery, and (iii) a porous-carbon vanadium flow battery. The results demonstrate the feasibility of nondestructive "impedance imaging" to infer microstructural statistics of random, heterogeneous materials.

  10. An integrated microfluidic analysis microsystems with bacterial capture enrichment and in-situ impedance detection

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Liu, Hai-Tao; Wen, Zhi-Yu; Xu, Yi; Shang, Zheng-Guo; Peng, Jin-Lan; Tian, Peng

    2017-09-01

    In this paper, an integrated microfluidic analysis microsystems with bacterial capture enrichment and in-situ impedance detection was purposed based on microfluidic chips dielectrophoresis technique and electrochemical impedance detection principle. The microsystems include microfluidic chip, main control module, and drive and control module, and signal detection and processing modulet and result display unit. The main control module produce the work sequence of impedance detection system parts and achieve data communication functions, the drive and control circuit generate AC signal which amplitude and frequency adjustable, and it was applied on the foodborne pathogens impedance analysis microsystems to realize the capture enrichment and impedance detection. The signal detection and processing circuit translate the current signal into impendence of bacteria, and transfer to computer, the last detection result is displayed on the computer. The experiment sample was prepared by adding Escherichia coli standard sample into chicken sample solution, and the samples were tested on the dielectrophoresis chip capture enrichment and in-situ impedance detection microsystems with micro-array electrode microfluidic chips. The experiments show that the Escherichia coli detection limit of microsystems is 5 × 104 CFU/mL and the detection time is within 6 min in the optimization of voltage detection 10 V and detection frequency 500 KHz operating conditions. The integrated microfluidic analysis microsystems laid the solid foundation for rapid real-time in-situ detection of bacteria.

  11. Clinical implementation of electrical impedance tomography with hyperthermia.

    PubMed

    Moskowitz, M J; Ryan, T P; Paulsen, K D; Mitchell, S E

    1995-01-01

    We describe the use of electrical impedance tomography (EIT) for non-invasive thermal imaging in conjunction with a clinical treatment of a superficial scalp lesion utilizing a spiral microstrip antenna. This is our first reported use of EIT with a clinical hyperthermia treatment and perhaps the first world-wide. The thermal measurements recorded during treatment compare favourably with the images reconstructed from impedance data gathered during heating. A linear relation, measured in phantom material, between the change in temperature with the change in reconstructed impedance was assumed. The average discrepancy between the measured temperature changes with the temperatures reconstructed from the impedance changes was 1.4 degrees C, with the maximum being 8.9 degrees C. These preliminary data suggest that impedance changes can be measured during hyperthermia delivery and temperature estimates based on these observed changes are possible in the clinical setting. These findings also point to the complex, yet critical nature of the impedance versus temperature relationship for tissue in vivo. The reconstructed thermal images may provide complementary information about the overall thermal damage imposed during heating. Based on this initial clinical experience we feel that EIT has great potential as a viable clinical aid in imaging the temperature changes imposed during hyperthermia.

  12. Background Signal as an in Situ Predictor of Dopamine Oxidation Potential: Improving Interpretation of Fast-Scan Cyclic Voltammetry Data.

    PubMed

    Meunier, Carl J; Roberts, James G; McCarty, Gregory S; Sombers, Leslie A

    2017-02-15

    Background-subtracted fast-scan cyclic voltammetry (FSCV) has emerged as a powerful analytical technique for monitoring subsecond molecular fluctuations in live brain tissue. Despite increasing utilization of FSCV, efforts to improve the accuracy of quantification have been limited due to the complexity of the technique and the dynamic recording environment. It is clear that variable electrode performance renders calibration necessary for accurate quantification; however, the nature of in vivo measurements can make conventional postcalibration difficult, or even impossible. Analyte-specific voltammograms and scaling factors that are critical for quantification can shift or fluctuate in vivo. This is largely due to impedance changes, and the effects of impedance on these measurements have not been characterized. We have previously reported that the background current can be used to predict electrode-specific scaling factors in situ. In this work, we employ model circuits to investigate the impact of impedance on FSCV measurements. Additionally, we take another step toward in situ electrode calibration by using the oxidation potential of quinones on the electrode surface to accurately predict the oxidation potential for dopamine at any point in an electrochemical experiment, as both are dependent on impedance. The model, validated both in adrenal slice and live brain tissue, enables information encoded in the shape of the background voltammogram to determine electrochemical parameters that are critical for accurate quantification. This improves data interpretation and provides a significant next step toward more automated methods for in vivo data analysis.

  13. Analysis of photoelectron effect on the antenna impedance via Particle-In-Cell simulation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Miyake, Y.; Usui, H.

    2008-08-01

    We present photoelectron effects on the impedance of electric field antennas used for plasma wave investigations. To illustrate the photoelectron effects, we applied electromagnetic Particle-In-Cell simulation to the self-consistent antenna impedance analysis. We confirmed the formation of a dense photoelectron region around the sunlit surfaces of the antenna and the spacecraft. The dense photoelectrons enhance the real part, and decrease the absolute value of the imaginary part, of antenna impedance at low frequencies. We also showed that the antenna conductance can be analytically calculated from simulation results of the electron current flowing into or out of the antenna. The antenna impedance in the photoelectron environment is represented by a parallel equivalent circuit consisting of a capacitance and a resistance, which is consistent with empirical knowledge. The results also imply that the impedance varies with the spin of the spacecraft, which causes the variation of the photoelectron density around the antenna.

  14. How to include frequency dependent complex permeability Into SPICE models to improve EMI filters design?

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sixdenier, Fabien; Yade, Ousseynou; Martin, Christian; Bréard, Arnaud; Vollaire, Christian

    2018-05-01

    Electromagnetic interference (EMI) filters design is a rather difficult task where engineers have to choose adequate magnetic materials, design the magnetic circuit and choose the size and number of turns. The final design must achieve the attenuation requirements (constraints) and has to be as compact as possible (goal). Alternating current (AC) analysis is a powerful tool to predict global impedance or attenuation of any filter. However, AC analysis are generally performed without taking into account the frequency-dependent complex permeability behaviour of soft magnetic materials. That's why, we developed two frequency-dependent complex permeability models able to be included into SPICE models. After an identification process, the performances of each model are compared to measurements made on a realistic EMI filter prototype in common mode (CM) and differential mode (DM) to see the benefit of the approach. Simulation results are in good agreement with the measured ones especially in the middle frequency range.

  15. Characterizing and Modeling the Noise and Complex Impedance of Feedhorn-Coupled TES Polarimeters

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Appel, J. W.; Beall, J. A.; Essinger-Hileman, T.

    2009-12-16

    We present results from modeling the electrothermal performance of feedhorn-coupled transition edge sensor (TES) polarimeters under development for use in cosmic microwave background (CMB) polarization experiments. Each polarimeter couples radiation from a corrugated feedhorn through a planar orthomode transducer, which transmits power from orthogonal polarization modes to two TES bolometers. We model our TES with two- and three-block thermal architectures. We fit the complex impedance data at multiple points in the TES transition. From the fits, we predict the noise spectra. We present comparisons of these predictions to the data for two TESes on a prototype polarimeter.

  16. Automated impedance-manometry analysis detects esophageal motor dysfunction in patients who have non-obstructive dysphagia with normal manometry.

    PubMed

    Nguyen, N Q; Holloway, R H; Smout, A J; Omari, T I

    2013-03-01

    Automated integrated analysis of impedance and pressure signals has been reported to identify patients at risk of developing dysphagia post fundoplication. This study aimed to investigate this analysis in the evaluation of patients with non-obstructive dysphagia (NOD) and normal manometry (NOD/NM). Combined impedance-manometry was performed in 42 patients (27F : 15M; 56.2 ± 5.1 years) and compared with that of 24 healthy subjects (8F : 16M; 48.2 ± 2.9 years). Both liquid and viscous boluses were tested. MATLAB-based algorithms defined the median intrabolus pressure (IBP), IBP slope, peak pressure (PP), and timing of bolus flow relative to peak pressure (TNadImp-PP). An index of pressure and flow (PFI) in the distal esophagus was derived from these variables. Diagnoses based on conventional manometric assessment: diffuse spasm (n = 5), non-specific motor disorders (n = 19), and normal (n = 11). Patients with achalasia (n = 7) were excluded from automated impedance-manometry (AIM) analysis. Only 2/11 (18%) patients with NOD/NM had evidence of flow abnormality on conventional impedance analysis. Several variables derived by integrated impedance-pressure analysis were significantly different in patients as compared with healthy: higher PNadImp (P < 0.01), IBP (P < 0.01) and IBP slope (P < 0.05), and shorter TNadImp_PP (P = 0.01). The PFI of NOD/NM patients was significantly higher than that in healthy (liquid: 6.7 vs 1.2, P = 0.02; viscous: 27.1 vs 5.7, P < 0.001) and 9/11 NOD/NM patients had abnormal PFI. Overall, the addition of AIM analysis provided diagnoses and/or a plausible explanation in 95% (40/42) of patients who presented with NOD. Compared with conventional pressure-impedance assessment, integrated analysis is more sensitive in detecting subtle abnormalities in esophageal function in patients with NOD and normal manometry. © 2012 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

  17. Evaluation of indirect impedance for measuring microbial growth in complex food matrices.

    PubMed

    Johnson, N; Chang, Z; Bravo Almeida, C; Michel, M; Iversen, C; Callanan, M

    2014-09-01

    The suitability of indirect impedance to accurately measure microbial growth in real food matrices was investigated. A variety of semi-solid and liquid food products were inoculated with Bacillus cereus, Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Lactobacillus plantarum, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Salmonella enteriditis, Candida tropicalis or Zygosaccharomyces rouxii and CO2 production was monitored using a conductimetric (Don Whitely R.A.B.I.T.) system. The majority (80%) of food and microbe combinations produced a detectable growth signal. The linearity of conductance responses in selected food products was investigated and a good correlation (R(2) ≥ 0.84) was observed between inoculum levels and times to detection. Specific growth rate estimations from the data were sufficiently accurate for predictive modeling in some cases. This initial evaluation of the suitability of indirect impedance to generate microbial growth data in complex food matrices indicates significant potential for the technology as an alternative to plating methods. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  18. Gradient-based model calibration with proxy-model assistance

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Burrows, Wesley; Doherty, John

    2016-02-01

    Use of a proxy model in gradient-based calibration and uncertainty analysis of a complex groundwater model with large run times and problematic numerical behaviour is described. The methodology is general, and can be used with models of all types. The proxy model is based on a series of analytical functions that link all model outputs used in the calibration process to all parameters requiring estimation. In enforcing history-matching constraints during the calibration and post-calibration uncertainty analysis processes, the proxy model is run for the purposes of populating the Jacobian matrix, while the original model is run when testing parameter upgrades; the latter process is readily parallelized. Use of a proxy model in this fashion dramatically reduces the computational burden of complex model calibration and uncertainty analysis. At the same time, the effect of model numerical misbehaviour on calculation of local gradients is mitigated, this allowing access to the benefits of gradient-based analysis where lack of integrity in finite-difference derivatives calculation would otherwise have impeded such access. Construction of a proxy model, and its subsequent use in calibration of a complex model, and in analysing the uncertainties of predictions made by that model, is implemented in the PEST suite.

  19. Correlation of the impedance and effective electrode area of doped PEDOT modified electrodes for brain-machine interfaces.

    PubMed

    Harris, Alexander R; Molino, Paul J; Kapsa, Robert M I; Clark, Graeme M; Paolini, Antonio G; Wallace, Gordon G

    2015-05-07

    Electrode impedance is used to assess the thermal noise and signal-to-noise ratio for brain-machine interfaces. An intermediate frequency of 1 kHz is typically measured, although other frequencies may be better predictors of device performance. PEDOT-PSS, PEDOT-DBSA and PEDOT-pTs conducting polymer modified electrodes have reduced impedance at 1 kHz compared to bare metal electrodes, but have no correlation with the effective electrode area. Analytical solutions to impedance indicate that all low-intermediate frequencies can be used to compare the electrode area at a series RC circuit, typical of an ideal metal electrode in a conductive solution. More complex equivalent circuits can be used for the modified electrodes, with a simplified Randles circuit applied to PEDOT-PSS and PEDOT-pTs and a Randles circuit including a Warburg impedance element for PEDOT-DBSA at 0 V. The impedance and phase angle at low frequencies using both equivalent circuit models is dependent on the electrode area. Low frequencies may therefore provide better predictions of the thermal noise and signal-to-noise ratio at modified electrodes. The coefficient of variation of the PEDOT-pTs impedance at low frequencies was lower than the other conducting polymers, consistent with linear and steady-state electroactive area measurements. There are poor correlations between the impedance and the charge density as they are not ideal metal electrodes.

  20. [The functional assessment of the upper urinary tract by the methods of 2-frequency impedance measurement and multichannel impedance ureterography].

    PubMed

    Mudraia, I S; Kirpatovskiĭ, V I

    1993-01-01

    The paper describes impedance methods of investigating upper urinary tracts (UUT) which may serve adjuvants in the diagnosis of the urinary tract wall disturbances due to diseases caused by impaired urine evacuation from the kidney and which may prove helpful in the choice of therapeutic policy, evaluation of the postoperative period and outcomes prognosis. UUT impedance tests can be performed during endoscopic manipulations or under open operative interventions. Two-frequency impedancemetry allows rapid detection of non-functioning UUT parts or sclerosal sites of the UUT wall, relevant criteria being the ratio of basic impedances of the site under low and high scanning current. This value is computed by an urological two-frequency impedancemeter IDU-M. To assess the UUT wall functionally, use should be made of 6-channel urological rheograph REUR-6 providing multichannel registration of immediate impedance ureterograms. In this manner one can obtain qualitative and quantitative assessment of the ureteral peristalsis through its all length, the criteria being the amplitude of impedance ureterographic complexes, their shape, duration, frequency, rhythm, sequence and rate of distribution. Loading tests increase the accuracy of UUT impedance measurements, are able to define compensatory reserves of the wall contractility. The introduction of rheological methods in urological practice makes broader the armory of diagnostic techniques in urology, upgrade pathogenetic validity of surgical and therapeutic measures.

  1. Microfluidic Impedance Flow Cytometry Enabling High-Throughput Single-Cell Electrical Property Characterization

    PubMed Central

    Chen, Jian; Xue, Chengcheng; Zhao, Yang; Chen, Deyong; Wu, Min-Hsien; Wang, Junbo

    2015-01-01

    This article reviews recent developments in microfluidic impedance flow cytometry for high-throughput electrical property characterization of single cells. Four major perspectives of microfluidic impedance flow cytometry for single-cell characterization are included in this review: (1) early developments of microfluidic impedance flow cytometry for single-cell electrical property characterization; (2) microfluidic impedance flow cytometry with enhanced sensitivity; (3) microfluidic impedance and optical flow cytometry for single-cell analysis and (4) integrated point of care system based on microfluidic impedance flow cytometry. We examine the advantages and limitations of each technique and discuss future research opportunities from the perspectives of both technical innovation and clinical applications. PMID:25938973

  2. Impedance Measurement Box

    ScienceCinema

    Christophersen, Jon; Morrison, Bill

    2018-02-14

    Energy storage devices, primarily batteries, are now more important to consumers, industries and the military. With increasing technical complexity and higher user expectations, there is also a demand for highly accurate state-of-health battery assessment techniques. IMB incorporates patented, proprietary, and tested capabilities using control software and hardware that can be part of an embedded monitoring system. IMB directly measures the wideband impedance spectrum in seconds during battery operation with no significant impact on service life. It also can be applied to batteries prior to installation, confirming health before entering active service, as well as during regular maintenance. For more information about this project, visit http://www.inl.gov/rd100/2011/impedance-measurement-box/

  3. Electrochemical Impedance Imaging via the Distribution of Diffusion Times.

    PubMed

    Song, Juhyun; Bazant, Martin Z

    2018-03-16

    We develop a mathematical framework to analyze electrochemical impedance spectra in terms of a distribution of diffusion times (DDT) for a parallel array of random finite-length Warburg (diffusion) or Gerischer (reaction-diffusion) circuit elements. A robust DDT inversion method is presented based on complex nonlinear least squares regression with Tikhonov regularization and illustrated for three cases of nanostructured electrodes for energy conversion: (i) a carbon nanotube supercapacitor, (ii) a silicon nanowire Li-ion battery, and (iii) a porous-carbon vanadium flow battery. The results demonstrate the feasibility of nondestructive "impedance imaging" to infer microstructural statistics of random, heterogeneous materials.

  4. Impedance magnitude optimization of the regenerator in Stirling pulse tube cryocoolers working at liquid-helium temperatures

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Cao, Q.; Qiu, L. M.; Zhi, X. Q.; Han, L.; Gan, Z. H.; Zhang, X. B.; Zhang, X. J.; Sun, D. M.

    2013-12-01

    The impedance magnitude is important for the design and operation of a Stirling pulse tube cryocooler (SPTC). However, the influence of the impedance magnitude on the SPTC working at liquid-helium temperatures is still not clear due to the complexity of refrigeration mechanism at this temperature range. In this study, the influence of the impedance magnitude on the viscous and thermal losses has been investigated, which contributes to the overall refrigeration efficiency. Different from the previous study at liquid nitrogen temperatures, it has been found and verified experimentally that a higher impedance magnitude may result in a larger mass flow rate accompanied with larger losses in the warmer region, hence the refrigeration efficiency is lowered. Numerical simulation is carried out in SPTCs of different geometry dimensions and working parameters, and the experimental study is carried out in a three-stage SPTC. A minimum no-load refrigeration temperature is achieved with an appropriate impedance magnitude that is determined by the combination of frequency and precooling temperature. A lowest temperature of 4.76 K is achieved at 28 Hz and a precooling temperature of 22.6 K, which is the lowest temperature ever achieved with He-4 for SPTCs. Impedance magnitude optimization is clearly an important consideration for the design of a 4 K SPTC.

  5. Thickness-, Composition-, and Magnetic-Field-Dependent Complex Impedance Spectroscopy of Granular-Type-Barrier Co/Co-Al2O3/Co MTJs

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Tuan, Nguyen Anh; Anh, Nguyen Tuan; Nga, Nguyen Tuyet; Tue, Nguyen Anh; Van Cuong, Giap

    2016-06-01

    The alternating-current (ac) electrical properties of granular-type-barrier magnetic tunnel junctions (GBMTJs) based on Co/Co x (Al2O3)1- x ( t)/Co trilayer structures have been studied using complex impedance spectroscopy (CIS). Their CIS characteristics were investigated in external magnetic fields varying from 0 kOe to 3 kOe as a function of Co composition x at 10 at.%, 25 at.%, and 35 at.%, with barrier layer thickness t of 20 nm to 90 nm. The influence of these factors on the behaviors of the ac impedance response of the GBMTJs was deeply investigated and attributed to the dielectric or conducting nature of the Co-Al2O3 barrier layer. The most remarkable typical phenomena observed in these behaviors, even appearing paradoxical, include lower impedance for thicker t for each given x, a declining trend of Z with increasing x, a clear decrease of Z with H, and especially a partition of Z into zones according to the H value. All these effects are analyzed and discussed to demonstrate that diffusion-type and mass-transfer-type phenomena can be inferred from processes such as spin tunneling and Coulomb or spin blockade in the Co-Al2O3 barrier layer.

  6. A PARAMETRIC STUDY OF BCS RF SURFACE IMPEDANCE WITH MAGNETIC FIELD USING THE XIAO CODE

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Reece, Charles E.; Xiao, Binping

    2013-09-01

    A recent new analysis of field-dependent BCS rf surface impedance based on moving Cooper pairs has been presented.[1] Using this analysis coded in Mathematica TM, survey calculations have been completed which examine the sensitivities of this surface impedance to variation of the BCS material parameters and temperature. The results present a refined description of the "best theoretical" performance available to potential applications with corresponding materials.

  7. Characterizing the ear canal acoustic reflectance and impedance by pole-zero fitting

    PubMed Central

    Robinson, Sarah R.; Nguyen, Cac T.; Allen, Jont B.

    2013-01-01

    This study characterizes middle ear complex acoustic reflectance (CAR) and impedance by fitting poles and zeros to real-ear measurements. The goal of this work is to establish a quantitative connection between pole-zero locations and the underlying physical properties of CAR data. Most previous studies have analyzed CAR magnitude; while the magnitude accounts for reflected power, it does not encode latency information. Thus, an analysis that studies the real and imaginary parts of the data together could be more powerful. Pole-zero fitting of CAR data is examined using data compiled from various studies, dating back to Voss and Allen (1994). Recent CAR measurements were taken using a middle ear acoustic power analyzer (MEPA) system (HearID, Mimosa Acoustics), which makes complex acoustic impedance and reflectance measurements in the ear canal over the 0.2 to 6.0 kHz frequency range. Pole-zero fits to measurements over this range are achieved with an average RMS relative error of less than 3% using 12 poles. Factoring the reflectance fit into its all-pass and minimum-phase components approximates the effect of the ear canal, allowing for comparison across measurements. It was found that individual CAR magnitude variations for normal middle ears in the 1 to 4 kHz range often give rise to closely-placed pole-zero pairs, and that the locations of the poles and zeros in the s-plane may differ between normal and pathological middle ears. This study establishes a methodology for examining the physical and mathematical properties of CAR using a concise parametric model. Pole-zero modeling shows promise for precise parameterization of CAR data and for identification of middle ear pathologies. PMID:23524141

  8. An efficient signal processing tool for impedance-based structural health monitoring

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    O'Brien, Megan K.; Taylor, Stuart G.; Farinholt, Kevin M.; Park, Gyuhae; Farrar, Charles R.

    2009-03-01

    Various experimental studies have demonstrated that an impedance-based approach to structural health monitoring can be an effective means of damage detection. Using the self-sensing and active-sensing capabilities of piezoelectric materials, the electromechanical impedance response can be monitored to provide a qualitative indication of the overall health of a structure. Although impedance analyzers are commonly used to collect such data, they are bulky and impractical for long-term field implementation, so a smaller and more portable device is desired. However, impedance measurements often contain a sizeable number of data points, and a smaller device may not possess enough memory to store the required information, particularly for real-time analysis. Therefore, the amount of data used to assess the integrity of a structure must be significantly reduced. A new type of cross correlation analysis, for which impedance data is instantaneously correlated between different sensor sets and different frequency ranges, as opposed to be correlated to pre-stored baseline data, is proposed to drastically reduce the amount of data to a single correlation coefficient and provide a quantitative means of detecting damage relative to the sensor positions. The proposed analysis is carried out on a 3-story representative structure and its efficiency is demonstrated.

  9. Scattering by a groove in an impedance plane

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Bindiganavale, Sunil; Volakis, John L.

    1993-01-01

    An analysis of two-dimensional scattering from a narrow groove in an impedance plane is presented. The groove is represented by a impedance surface and the problem reduces to that of scattering from an impedance strip in an otherwise uniform impedance plane. On the basis of this model, appropriate integral equations are constructed using a form of the impedance plane Green's functions involving rapidly convergent integrals. The integral equations are solved by introducing a single basis representation of the equivalent current on the narrow impedance insert. Both transverse electric (TE) and transverse magnetic (TM) polarizations are treated. The resulting solution is validated by comparison with results from the standard boundary integral method (BIM) and a high frequency solution. It is found that the presented solution for narrow impedance inserts can be used in conjunction with the high frequency solution for the characterization of impedance inserts of any given width.

  10. Techniques for Fault Detection and Visualization of Telemetry Dependence Relationships for Root Cause Fault Analysis in Complex Systems

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Guy, Nathaniel

    This thesis explores new ways of looking at telemetry data, from a time-correlative perspective, in order to see patterns within the data that may suggest root causes of system faults. It was thought initially that visualizing an animated Pearson Correlation Coefficient (PCC) matrix for telemetry channels would be sufficient to give new understanding; however, testing showed that the high dimensionality and inability to easily look at change over time in this approach impeded understanding. Different correlative techniques, combined with the time curve visualization proposed by Bach et al (2015), were adapted to visualize both raw telemetry and telemetry data correlations. Review revealed that these new techniques give insights into the data, and an intuitive grasp of data families, which show the effectiveness of this approach for enhancing system understanding and assisting with root cause analysis for complex aerospace systems.

  11. FDTD modeling of thin impedance sheets

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Luebbers, Raymond J.; Kunz, Karl S.

    1991-01-01

    Thin sheets of resistive or dielectric material are commonly encountered in radar cross section calculations. Analysis of such sheets is simplified by using sheet impedances. In this paper it is shown that sheet impedances can be modeled easily and accurately using Finite Difference Time Domain (FDTD) methods.

  12. Impedance analysis of GPCR-mediated changes in endothelial barrier function: overview, and fundamental considerations for stable and reproducible measurements

    PubMed Central

    Stolwijk, Judith A.; Matrougui, Khalid; Renken, Christian W.; Trebak, Mohamed

    2014-01-01

    The past 20 years have seen significant growth in using impedance-based assays to understand the molecular underpinning of endothelial and epithelial barrier function in response to physiological agonists, pharmacological and toxicological compounds. Most studies on barrier function use G protein coupled receptor (GPCR) agonists which couple to fast and transient changes in barrier properties. The power of impedance based techniques such as Electric Cell-Substrate Impedance Sensing (ECIS) reside in its ability to detect minute changes in cell layer integrity label-free and in real-time ranging from seconds to days. We provide a comprehensive overview of the biophysical principles, applications and recent developments in impedance-based methodologies. Despite extensive application of impedance analysis in endothelial barrier research little attention has been paid to data analysis and critical experimental variables, which are both essential for signal stability and reproducibility. We describe the rationale behind common ECIS data presentation and interpretation and illustrate practical guidelines to improve signal intensity by adapting technical parameters such as electrode layout, monitoring frequency or parameter (resistance versus impedance magnitude). Moreover, we discuss the impact of experimental parameters, including cell source, liquid handling and agonist preparation on signal intensity and kinetics. Our discussions are supported by experimental data obtained from human microvascular endothelial cells challenged with three GPCR agonists, thrombin, histamine and Sphingosine-1-Phosphate. PMID:25537398

  13. Impedance analysis of GPCR-mediated changes in endothelial barrier function: overview and fundamental considerations for stable and reproducible measurements.

    PubMed

    Stolwijk, Judith A; Matrougui, Khalid; Renken, Christian W; Trebak, Mohamed

    2015-10-01

    The past 20 years has seen significant growth in using impedance-based assays to understand the molecular underpinning of endothelial and epithelial barrier function in response to physiological agonists and pharmacological and toxicological compounds. Most studies on barrier function use G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) agonists which couple to fast and transient changes in barrier properties. The power of impedance-based techniques such as electric cell-substrate impedance sensing (ECIS) resides in its ability to detect minute changes in cell layer integrity label-free and in real-time ranging from seconds to days. We provide a comprehensive overview of the biophysical principles, applications, and recent developments in impedance-based methodologies. Despite extensive application of impedance analysis in endothelial barrier research, little attention has been paid to data analysis and critical experimental variables, which are both essential for signal stability and reproducibility. We describe the rationale behind common ECIS data presentation and interpretation and illustrate practical guidelines to improve signal intensity by adapting technical parameters such as electrode layout, monitoring frequency, or parameter (resistance versus impedance magnitude). Moreover, we discuss the impact of experimental parameters, including cell source, liquid handling, and agonist preparation on signal intensity and kinetics. Our discussions are supported by experimental data obtained from human microvascular endothelial cells challenged with three GPCR agonists, thrombin, histamine, and sphingosine-1-phosphate.

  14. Methanobrevibacter attenuation via probiotic intervention reduces flatulence in adult human: A non-randomised paired-design clinical trial of efficacy.

    PubMed

    Seo, Minseok; Heo, Jaeyoung; Yoon, Joon; Kim, Se-Young; Kang, Yoon-Mo; Yu, Jihyun; Cho, Seoae; Kim, Heebal

    2017-01-01

    The aim of this study was to investigate which of the gut microbes respond to probiotic intervention, as well as study whether they are associated with gastrointestinal symptoms in a healthy adult human. For the experimental purpose, twenty-one healthy adults were recruited and received probiotic mixture, which is composed of five Lactobacilli strains and two Bifidobacteria strains, once a day for 60 days. Defecation survey and Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis were conducted pre- and post-administration to measure phenotypic differences. Stool samples of the subjects were collected twice. The statistical analysis was performed for pair designed metagenome data with 11 phenotypic records of the bioelectrical impedance body composition analyzer and 6 responses of the questionnaires about gastrointestinal symptom. Furthemore, correlation-based network analysis was conducted for exploring complex relationships among microbiome communities. The abundances of Citrobacter, Klebsiella, and Methanobrevibacter were significantly reduced, which are strong candidates to be highly affected by the probiotic administration. In addition, interaction effects were observed between flatulence symptom attenuation and decreasing patterns of the Methanobrevibacter abundance. These results reveal that probiotic intervention modulated the composition of gut microbiota and reduced the abundance of potential pathogens (i.e. Citrobacter and Klebsiella). In addition, methanogens (i.e. Methanobrevibacter) associated with the gastrointestinal symptom in an adult human.

  15. Processing and electrical properties of gallium-substituted lead zirconate titanate ceramics

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hajra, Sugato; Sharma, Pulkit; Sahoo, Sushrisangita; Rout, P. K.; Choudhary, R. N. P.

    2017-12-01

    In the present paper, the effect of gallium (Ga) substitution on structural, microstructural, electrical conductivity of Pb(ZrTi)O3 (PZT) in the morphotropic phase boundary (MPB) region (i.e., Pb0.96Ga0.04(Zr0.48Ti0.52)0.99O3 (PGaZT-4)) was investigated. Increased grain density increases the resistivity of the Ga-modified PZT system. Preliminary structural analysis using X-ray diffraction pattern and data showed the existence of two phases [major tetragonal (T) and minor monoclinic (M)]. Field emission scanning electron micrograph (FESEM) showed the distribution of spherical as well as platelet type grains with small pores. The behavior of dielectric constant with temperature of PGaZT-4 exhibited the suppression of the ferroelectric phase transition [i.e., disappearance of Curie temperature ( T c)]. The complex impedance spectroscopy (CIS) technique helped to investigate the impedance parameters of PGaZT-4 in MPB region in a wide range of temperature (250-500 °C) and frequency (1-1000 kHz) region. The impedance parameters of the material are found to be strongly dependent on frequency of AC electric field and temperature. The substitution of gallium at the Pb site of PZT generally enhances the dielectric constant and decreases loss tangent. The AC conductivity vs frequency ( f = ω2 π) in the region of dispersion follows the universal response of Jonscher's equation. Enhanced resistive characteristics were observed for Ga-substituted PZT in comparison to the pure PZT, which was well ensured from the studies of electrical parameters, such as impedance and AC conductivity.

  16. Calibrated complex impedance of CHO cells and E. coli bacteria at GHz frequencies using scanning microwave microscopy

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Tuca, Silviu-Sorin; Badino, Giorgio; Gramse, Georg; Brinciotti, Enrico; Kasper, Manuel; Oh, Yoo Jin; Zhu, Rong; Rankl, Christian; Hinterdorfer, Peter; Kienberger, Ferry

    2016-04-01

    The application of scanning microwave microscopy (SMM) to extract calibrated electrical properties of cells and bacteria in air is presented. From the S 11 images, after calibration, complex impedance and admittance images of Chinese hamster ovary cells and E. coli bacteria deposited on a silicon substrate have been obtained. The broadband capabilities of SMM have been used to characterize the bio-samples between 2 GHz and 20 GHz. The resulting calibrated cell and bacteria admittance at 19 GHz were Y cell = 185 μS + j285 μS and Y bacteria = 3 μS + j20 μS, respectively. A combined circuitry-3D finite element method EMPro model has been developed and used to investigate the frequency response of the complex impedance and admittance of the SMM setup. Based on a proposed parallel resistance-capacitance model, the equivalent conductance and parallel capacitance of the cells and bacteria were obtained from the SMM images. The influence of humidity and frequency on the cell conductance was experimentally studied. To compare the cell conductance with bulk water properties, we measured the imaginary part of the bulk water loss with a dielectric probe kit in the same frequency range resulting in a high level of agreement.

  17. Lifetime assessment analysis of Galileo Li/SO2 cells: Final report

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Levy, S.C.; Jaeger, C.D.; Bouchard, D.A.

    Galileo Li/SO2 cells from five lots and five storage temperatures were studied to establish a database from which the performance of flight modules may be predicted. Nondestructive tests consisting of complex impedance analysis and a 15-s pulse were performed on all cells. Chemical analysis was performed on one cell from each lot/storage group, and the remaining cells were discharged at Galileo mission loads. An additional number of cells were placed on high-temperature accelerated aging storage for 6 months and then discharged. All data were statistically analyzed. Results indicate that the present Galileo design Li/SO2 cell will satisfy electrical requirements formore » a 10-year mission. 10 figs., 4 tabs.« less

  18. Linear analysis of a force reflective teleoperator

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Biggers, Klaus B.; Jacobsen, Stephen C.; Davis, Clark C.

    1989-01-01

    Complex force reflective teleoperation systems are often very difficult to analyze due to the large number of components and control loops involved. One mode of a force reflective teleoperator is described. An analysis of the performance of the system based on a linear analysis of the general full order model is presented. Reduced order models are derived and correlated with the full order models. Basic effects of force feedback and position feedback are examined and the effects of time delays between the master and slave are studied. The results show that with symmetrical position-position control of teleoperators, a basic trade off must be made between the intersystem stiffness of the teleoperator, and the impedance felt by the operator in free space.

  19. Photovoltaic effect in organic polymer-iodine complex

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Hermann, A. M.; Rembaum, A.

    1967-01-01

    Certain charge transfer complexes formed from organic polymers and iodine generate appreciable voltages at relatively low impedances upon exposure to light. These films show promise in applications requiring chemically and electrically stable films as detectors of optical radiation and as energy converters in photovoltaic cells.

  20. Method and apparatus for in-situ characterization of energy storage and energy conversion devices

    DOEpatents

    Christophersen, Jon P [Idaho Falls, ID; Motloch, Chester G [Idaho Falls, ID; Morrison, John L [Butte, MT; Albrecht, Weston [Layton, UT

    2010-03-09

    Disclosed are methods and apparatuses for determining an impedance of an energy-output device using a random noise stimulus applied to the energy-output device. A random noise signal is generated and converted to a random noise stimulus as a current source correlated to the random noise signal. A bias-reduced response of the energy-output device to the random noise stimulus is generated by comparing a voltage at the energy-output device terminal to an average voltage signal. The random noise stimulus and bias-reduced response may be periodically sampled to generate a time-varying current stimulus and a time-varying voltage response, which may be correlated to generate an autocorrelated stimulus, an autocorrelated response, and a cross-correlated response. Finally, the autocorrelated stimulus, the autocorrelated response, and the cross-correlated response may be combined to determine at least one of impedance amplitude, impedance phase, and complex impedance.

  1. Validation of the force and frequency characteristics of the activator adjusting instrument: effectiveness as a mechanical impedance measurement tool.

    PubMed

    Keller, T S; Colloca, C J; Fuhr, A W

    1999-02-01

    To determine the dynamic force-time and force-frequency characteristics of the Activator Adjusting Instrument and to validate its effectiveness as a mechanical impedance measurement device; in addition, to refine or optimize the force-frequency characteristics of the Activator Adjusting Instrument to provide enhanced dynamic structural measurement reliability and accuracy. An idealized test structure consisting of a rectangular steel beam with a static stiffness similar to that of the human thoracolumbar spine was used for validation of a method to determine the dynamic mechanical response of the spine. The Activator Adjusting Instrument equipped with a load cell and accelerometer was used to measure forces and accelerations during mechanical excitation of the steel beam. Driving point and transfer mechanical impedance and resonant frequency of the beam were determined by use of a frequency spectrum analysis for different force settings, stylus masses, and stylus tips. Results were compared with beam theory and transfer impedance measurements obtained by use of a commercial electronic PCB impact hammer. The Activator Adjusting Instrument imparted a very complex dynamic impact comprising an initial high force (116 to 140 N), short duration pulse (<0.1 ms) followed by several lower force (30 to 100 N), longer duration impulses (1 to 5 ms). The force profile was highly reproducible in terms of the peak impulse forces delivered to the beam structure (<8% variance). Spectrum analysis of the Activator Adjusting Instrument impulse indicated that the Activator Adjusting Instrument has a variable force spectrum and delivers its peak energy at a frequency of 20 Hz. Added masses and different durometer stylus tips had very little influence on the Activator Adjusting Instrument force spectrum. The resonant frequency of the beam was accurately predicted by both the Activator Adjusting Instrument and electronic PCB impact hammer, but variations in the magnitude of the driving point impedance at the resonant frequency were high (67%) compared with the transfer impedance measurements obtained with the electronic PCB impact hammer, which had a more uniform force spectrum and was more repeatable (<10% variation). The addition of a preload-control frame to the Activator Adjusting Instrument improved the characteristics of the force frequency spectrum and repeatability of the driving point impedance measurements. These findings indicate that the Activator Adjusting Instrument combined with an integral load cell and accelerometer was able to obtain an accurate description of a steel beam with readily identifiable geometric and dynamic mechanical properties. These findings support the rationale for using the device to assess the dynamic mechanical behavior of the vertebral column. Such information would be useful for SMT and may ultimately be used to evaluate the [corrected] biomechanical effectiveness of various manipulative, surgical, and rehabilitative spinal procedures.

  2. Impedance measurement using a two-microphone, random-excitation method

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Seybert, A. F.; Parrott, T. L.

    1978-01-01

    The feasibility of using a two-microphone, random-excitation technique for the measurement of acoustic impedance was studied. Equations were developed, including the effect of mean flow, which show that acoustic impedance is related to the pressure ratio and phase difference between two points in a duct carrying plane waves only. The impedances of a honeycomb ceramic specimen and a Helmholtz resonator were measured and compared with impedances obtained using the conventional standing-wave method. Agreement between the two methods was generally good. A sensitivity analysis was performed to pinpoint possible error sources and recommendations were made for future study. The two-microphone approach evaluated in this study appears to have some advantages over other impedance measuring techniques.

  3. Analysis of the load selection on the error of source characteristics identification for an engine exhaust system

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zheng, Sifa; Liu, Haitao; Dan, Jiabi; Lian, Xiaomin

    2015-05-01

    Linear time-invariant assumption for the determination of acoustic source characteristics, the source strength and the source impedance in the frequency domain has been proved reasonable in the design of an exhaust system. Different methods have been proposed to its identification and the multi-load method is widely used for its convenience by varying the load number and impedance. Theoretical error analysis has rarely been referred to and previous results have shown an overdetermined set of open pipes can reduce the identification error. This paper contributes a theoretical error analysis for the load selection. The relationships between the error in the identification of source characteristics and the load selection were analysed. A general linear time-invariant model was built based on the four-load method. To analyse the error of the source impedance, an error estimation function was proposed. The dispersion of the source pressure was obtained by an inverse calculation as an indicator to detect the accuracy of the results. It was found that for a certain load length, the load resistance at the frequency points of one-quarter wavelength of odd multiples results in peaks and in the maximum error for source impedance identification. Therefore, the load impedance of frequency range within the one-quarter wavelength of odd multiples should not be used for source impedance identification. If the selected loads have more similar resistance values (i.e., the same order of magnitude), the identification error of the source impedance could be effectively reduced.

  4. Organic electrochemical transistors for cell-based impedance sensing

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Rivnay, Jonathan; Ramuz, Marc; Leleux, Pierre; Hama, Adel; Huerta, Miriam; Owens, Roisin M.

    2015-01-01

    Electrical impedance sensing of biological systems, especially cultured epithelial cell layers, is now a common technique to monitor cell motion, morphology, and cell layer/tissue integrity for high throughput toxicology screening. Existing methods to measure electrical impedance most often rely on a two electrode configuration, where low frequency signals are challenging to obtain for small devices and for tissues with high resistance, due to low current. Organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs) are conducting polymer-based devices, which have been shown to efficiently transduce and amplify low-level ionic fluxes in biological systems into electronic output signals. In this work, we combine OECT-based drain current measurements with simultaneous measurement of more traditional impedance sensing using the gate current to produce complex impedance traces, which show low error at both low and high frequencies. We apply this technique in vitro to a model epithelial tissue layer and show that the data can be fit to an equivalent circuit model yielding trans-epithelial resistance and cell layer capacitance values in agreement with literature. Importantly, the combined measurement allows for low biases across the cell layer, while still maintaining good broadband signal.

  5. Evaluation of multiple frequency bioelectrical impedance and Cole-Cole analysis for the assessment of body water volumes in healthy humans.

    PubMed

    Cornish, B H; Ward, L C; Thomas, B J; Jebb, S A; Elia, M

    1996-03-01

    To assess the application of a Cole-Cole analysis of multiple frequency bioelectrical impedance analysis (MFBIA) measurements to predict total body water (TBW) and extracellular water (ECW) in humans. This technique has previously been shown to produce accurate and reliable estimates in both normal and abnormal animals. The whole body impedance of 60 healthy humans was measured at 496 frequencies (ranging from 4 kHz to 1 MHz) and the impedance at zero frequency, Ro, and at the characteristic frequency, Zc, were determined from the impedance spectrum, (Cole-Cole plot). TBW and ECW were independently determined using deuterium and bromide tracer dilution techniques. At the Dunn Clinical Nutrition Centre and The Department of Biochemistry, University of Queensland. 60 healthy adult volunteers (27 men and 33 women, aged 18-45 years). The results presented suggest that the swept frequency bioimpedance technique estimates total body water, (SEE = 5.2%), and extracellular water, (SEE = 10%), only slightly better in normal, healthy subjects than a method based on single frequency bioimpedance or anthropometric estimates based on weight, height and gender. This study has undertaken the most extensive analysis to date of relationships between TBW (and ECW) and individual impedances obtained at different frequencies ( > 400 frequencies), and has shown marginal advantages of using one frequency over another, even if values predicted from theoretical bioimpedance models are used in the estimations. However in situations where there are disturbances of fluid distribution, values predicted from the Cole-Cole analysis of swept frequency bioimpedance measurements could prove to be more useful.

  6. Defined-size DNA triple crossover construct for molecular electronics: modification, positioning and conductance properties.

    PubMed

    Linko, Veikko; Leppiniemi, Jenni; Paasonen, Seppo-Tapio; Hytönen, Vesa P; Toppari, J Jussi

    2011-07-08

    We present a novel, defined-size, small and rigid DNA template, a so-called B-A-B complex, based on DNA triple crossover motifs (TX tiles), which can be utilized in molecular scale patterning for nanoelectronics, plasmonics and sensing applications. The feasibility of the designed construct is demonstrated by functionalizing the TX tiles with one biotin-triethylene glycol (TEG) and efficiently decorating them with streptavidin, and furthermore by positioning and anchoring single thiol-modified B-A-B complexes to certain locations on a chip via dielectrophoretic trapping. Finally, we characterize the conductance properties of the non-functionalized construct, first by measuring DC conductivity and second by utilizing AC impedance spectroscopy in order to describe the conductivity mechanism of a single B-A-B complex using a detailed equivalent circuit model. This analysis also reveals further information about the conductivity of DNA structures in general.

  7. The added value of quantitative analysis of on-therapy impedance-pH parameters in distinguishing refractory non-erosive reflux disease from functional heartburn.

    PubMed

    Frazzoni, M; Conigliaro, R; Mirante, V G; Melotti, G

    2012-02-01

    By analysis of symptom-reflux association, endoscopy-negative refractory heartburn can be related to acid/non-acid refluxes with impedance-pH monitoring. Unfortunately, patients frequently do not report symptoms during the test. We aimed to assess the contribution of quantitative analysis of impedance-pH parameters added to symptom-reflux association in evaluating patients with endoscopy-negative heartburn refractory to high-dose proton pump inhibitor therapy. The symptom association probability (SAP), the symptom index (SI), the esophageal acid exposure time and the number of distal and proximal refluxes were assessed at on-therapy impedance-pH monitoring. Relationships with hiatal hernia and manometric findings were also evaluated. Eighty patients were prospectively studied. Refractory heartburn was more frequently related to reflux by a positive SAP/SI and/or abnormal impedance-pH parameters (52/80 cases) (65%) than by a positive SAP/SI only (38/80 cases) (47%) (P = 0.038). In patients with refractory non-erosive reflux disease (NERD) defined by a positive SAP/SI and/or abnormal impedance-pH parameters, the prevalence of hiatal hernia was significantly higher (56%vs 21%, P = 0.007) and the mean lower esophageal sphincter tone was significantly lower (18.7 vs 25.8 mmHg, P = 0.005) than in those (35%) with reflux-unrelated, i.e., functional heartburn (FH). On the contrary, no significant difference was observed subdividing patients according to a positive SAP/SI only. Quantitative analysis of impedance-pH parameters added to symptom-reflux association allows a subdivision of refractory-heartburn patients into refractory NERD and FH which is substantiated by pathophysiological findings and which restricts the diagnosis of FH to one third of cases. © 2011 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

  8. Factors promoting or potentially impeding school success: disparities and state variations for children with special health care needs.

    PubMed

    Bethell, Christina; Forrest, Christopher B; Stumbo, Scott; Gombojav, Narangerel; Carle, Adam; Irwin, Charles E

    2012-04-01

    School success predicts many pathways for health and well-being across the life span. Factors promoting or potentially impeding school success are critical to understand for all children and for children with special health care needs (CSHCN), whose life course trajectories are already impacted by their chronic health problems. The 2007 National Survey of Children's Health was used (1) to estimate national and state prevalence and within and across states disparities in factors promoting school success (engagement, participation, safety) or potentially impeding success (missing school, grade repetition, school identified problems) for all children and CSHCN and (2) to evaluate associations with CSHCN service need complexity and presence of emotional, behavioral or developmental problems (EBD) as well as with school case management policies in states. Among school age children, 60 % experienced all three factors promoting school success (49.3-73.8 % across states), dropping to 51.3 % for CSHCN (39.4-64.7 % across states) and to 36.2 % for the 40 % of all CSHCN who have both more complex service needs and EBD. CSHCN were more likely to experience factors potentially impeding school success. After accounting for child factors, CSHCN living in states requiring case management in schools for children with disabilities were less likely to experience grade repetition (OR 0.65). Within-state disparities between non-CSHCN and CSHCN varied across states. Threats to school success for US children are pervasive and are especially pronounced for CSHCN with more complex needs and EBD. Findings support broad, non-condition specific efforts to promote school success for CSHCN and consideration of state school policies, such as case management.

  9. A Micro-Grid Simulator Tool (SGridSim) using Effective Node-to-Node Complex Impedance (EN2NCI) Models

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Udhay Ravishankar; Milos manic

    2013-08-01

    This paper presents a micro-grid simulator tool useful for implementing and testing multi-agent controllers (SGridSim). As a common engineering practice it is important to have a tool that simplifies the modeling of the salient features of a desired system. In electric micro-grids, these salient features are the voltage and power distributions within the micro-grid. Current simplified electric power grid simulator tools such as PowerWorld, PowerSim, Gridlab, etc, model only the power distribution features of a desired micro-grid. Other power grid simulators such as Simulink, Modelica, etc, use detailed modeling to accommodate the voltage distribution features. This paper presents a SGridSimmore » micro-grid simulator tool that simplifies the modeling of both the voltage and power distribution features in a desired micro-grid. The SGridSim tool accomplishes this simplified modeling by using Effective Node-to-Node Complex Impedance (EN2NCI) models of components that typically make-up a micro-grid. The term EN2NCI models means that the impedance based components of a micro-grid are modeled as single impedances tied between their respective voltage nodes on the micro-grid. Hence the benefit of the presented SGridSim tool are 1) simulation of a micro-grid is performed strictly in the complex-domain; 2) faster simulation of a micro-grid by avoiding the simulation of detailed transients. An example micro-grid model was built using the SGridSim tool and tested to simulate both the voltage and power distribution features with a total absolute relative error of less than 6%.« less

  10. The effects of non-stationary noise on electromagnetic response estimates

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Banks, R. J.

    1998-11-01

    The noise in natural electromagnetic time series is typically non-stationary. Sections of data with high magnetic noise levels bias impedances and generate unreliable error estimates. Sections containing noise that is coherent between electric and magnetic channels also produce inappropriate impedances and errors. The answer is to compute response values for data sections which are as short as is feasible, i.e. which are compatible both with the chosen bandwidth and with the need to over-determine the least-squares estimation of the impedance and coherence. Only those values that are reliable are selected, and the best single measure of the reliability of Earth impedance estimates is their temporal invariance, which is tested by the coherence between the measured and predicted electric fields. Complex demodulation is the method used here to explore the temporal structure of electromagnetic fields in the period range 20-6000 s. For periods above 300 s, noisy sections are readily identified in time series of impedance values. The corresponding estimates deviate strongly from the normal value, are biased towards low impedance values, and are associated with low coherences. Plots of the impedance against coherence are particularly valuable diagnostic aids. For periods below 300 s, impedance bias increases systematically as the coherence falls, identifying input channel noise as the cause. By selecting sections with high coherence (equivalent to the impedance being invariant over the section) unbiased impedances and realistic errors can be determined. The scatter in impedance values among high-coherence sections is due to noise that is coherent between input and output channels, implying the presence of two or more systems for which a consistent response can be defined. Where the Earth and noise responses are significantly different, it may be possible to improve estimates of the former by rejecting sections that do not generate satisfactory values for all the response elements.

  11. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy of supercapacitors: A novel analysis approach using evolutionary programming

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Oz, Alon; Hershkovitz, Shany; Tsur, Yoed

    2014-11-01

    In this contribution we present a novel approach to analyze impedance spectroscopy measurements of supercapacitors. Transforming the impedance data into frequency-dependent capacitance allows us to use Impedance Spectroscopy Genetic Programming (ISGP) in order to find the distribution function of relaxation times (DFRT) of the processes taking place in the tested device. Synthetic data was generated in order to demonstrate this technique and a model for supercapacitor ageing process has been obtained.

  12. Impedance Spectroscopy and AC Conductivity Studies of Bulk 3-Amino-7-(dimethylamino)-2-methyl-hydrochloride

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    El-Shabaan, M. M.

    2018-02-01

    Impedance spectroscopy and alternating-current (AC) conductivity (σ AC) studies of bulk 3-amino-7-(dimethylamino)-2-methyl-hydrochloride (neutral red, NR) have been carried out over the temperature (T) range from 303 K to 383 K and frequency (f) range from 0.5 kHz to 5 MHz. Dielectric data were analyzed using the complex impedance (Z *) and complex electric modulus (M *) for bulk NR at various temperatures. The impedance loss peaks were found to shift towards high frequencies, indicating an increase in the relaxation time (τ 0) and loss in the material, with increasing temperature. For each temperature, a single depressed semicircle was observed at high frequencies, originating from the bulk transport, and a spike in the low-frequency region, resulting from the electrode effect. Fitting of these curves yielded an equivalent circuit containing a parallel combination of a resistance R and constant-phase element (CPE) Q. The carrier transport in bulk NR is governed by the correlated barrier hopping (CBH) mechanism, some parameters of which, such as the maximum barrier height (W M), charge density (N), and hopping distance (r), were determined as functions of both temperature and frequency. The frequency dependence of σ AC at different temperatures indicated that the conduction in bulk NR is a thermally activated process. The σ AC value at different frequencies increased linearly with temperature.

  13. BIOELECTRICAL IMPEDANCE VECTOR ANALYSIS IDENTIFIES SARCOPENIA IN NURSING HOME RESIDENTS

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    Loss of muscle mass and water shifts between body compartments are contributing factors to frailty in the elderly. The body composition changes are especially pronounced in institutionalized elderly. We investigated the ability of single-frequency bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) to identify b...

  14. A lumped-circuit model for the radiation impedance of a circular piston in a rigid baffle.

    PubMed

    Bozkurt, Ayhan

    2008-09-01

    The radiation impedance of a piston transducer mounted in a rigid baffle has been widely addressed in the literature. The real and imaginary parts of the impedance are described by the first order Bessel and Struve functions, respectively. Although there are power series expansions for both functions, the analytic formulation of a lumped circuit is not trivial. In this paper, we present an empirical approach to the derivation of a lumped-circuit model for the radiation impedance expression, based on observations on the near-field behavior of stored kinetic and elastic energy. The field analysis is carried out using a finite element method model of the piston and surrounding fluid medium. We show that fluctuations in the real and imaginary components of the impedance can be modeled by series and shunt tank circuits, each of which shape a certain section of the impedance curve. Because the model is composed of lumped-circuit elements, it can be used in circuit simulators. Consequently, the proposed model is useful for the analysis of transducer front-end circuits.

  15. Effects of tissue impedance on heat generation during RF delivery with the Thermage system

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Tomkoria, Sara; Pope, Karl

    2005-04-01

    The Thermage ThermaCool TC system is a non-ablative RF device designed to promote tissue tightening and contouring. The system delivers RF energy to a target area under the skin, with volumetric tissue heating in that area. While the amount of energy delivered to a patient can be controlled by ThermaCool system settings, the distribution of energy to the treatment area and underlying layers is variable from individual to individual due to differences in body composition. The present study investigated how local tissue impedance affects the amount of discomfort experienced by patients during RF energy delivery. Discomfort results from heat generation in the treatment area. By using features of the ThermaCool TC System, local impedance (impedance of the treatment area), bulk impedance (impedance of the underlying tissue layers), and total impedance (the sum of local and bulk impedance) were measured for 35 patients. For each patient, impedance measurements were compared to discomfort levels expressed during treatment. Analysis of whole body, local, and bulk impedance values indicate that the percent of total body impedance in the local treatment area contributes to discomfort levels expressed by patients during treatment.

  16. 3D modelling of the human thorax for ventilation distribution measured through electrical impedance tomography

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Fan, W. R.; Wang, H. X.

    2010-11-01

    Thoracic electrical impedance tomography (EIT) aims to reconstruct a cross-sectional image of the internal spatial distribution of conductivity from electrical measurements made by injecting small alternating currents via an electrode array placed on the surface of the thorax. It is a non-invasive, radiation-free monitoring technique. In this paper, true 3D thorax models with conductivity distribution or complex conductivity distribution under different ARDS conditions are built up in comparison with the 2.5D ones, and EIT-derived numeric indices are also employed for evaluation of the lung ventilation. The purpose of this paper is to study different effects of different thorax models with either conductivity or complex conductivity on the reconstructed images and ventilation indices.

  17. Assembly dynamics and stability of the pneumococcal epsilon zeta antitoxin toxin (PezAT) system from Streptococcus pneumoniae.

    PubMed

    Mutschler, Hannes; Reinstein, Jochen; Meinhart, Anton

    2010-07-09

    The pneumococcal epsilon zeta antitoxin toxin (PezAT) system is a chromosomally encoded, class II toxin antitoxin system from the human pathogen Streptococcus pneumnoniae. Neutralization of the bacteriotoxic protein PezT is carried out by complex formation with its cognate antitoxin PezA. Here we study the stability of the inhibitory complex in vivo and in vitro. We found that toxin release is impeded in Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis due to the proteolytic resistance of PezA once bound to PezT. These findings are supported by in vitro experiments demonstrating a strong thermodynamic stabilization of both proteins upon binding. A detailed kinetic analysis of PezAT assembly revealed that these particular features of PezAT are based on a strong, electrostatically guided binding mechanism leading to a stable toxin antitoxin complex with femtomolar affinity. Our data show that PezAT complex formation is distinct to all other conventional toxin antitoxin modules and a controlled mode of toxin release is required for activation.

  18. Single Mode Theory for Impedance Eduction in Large-Scale Ducts with Grazing Flow

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Watson, Willie R.; Gerhold, Carl H.; Jones, Michael G.; June, Jason C.

    2014-01-01

    An impedance eduction theory for a rigid wall duct containing an acoustic liner with an unknown impedance and uniform grazing flow is presented. The unique features of the theory are: 1) non-planar waves propagate in the hard wall sections of the duct, 2) input data consist solely of complex acoustic pressures acquired on a wall adjacent to the liner, and 3) multiple higher-order modes may exist in the direction perpendicular to the liner and the opposite rigid wall. The approach is to first measure the axial propagation constant of a dominant higher-order mode in the liner sample section. This axial propagation constant is then used in conjunction with a closed-form solution to a reduced form of the convected Helmholtz equation and the wall impedance boundary condition to educe the liner impedance. The theory is validated on a conventional liner whose impedance spectrum is educed in two flow ducts with different cross sections. For the frequencies and Mach numbers of interest, no higher-order modes propagate in the hard wall sections of the smaller duct. A benchmark method is used to educe the impedance spectrum in this duct. A dominant higher-order vertical mode propagates in the larger duct for similar test conditions, and the current theory is applied to educe the impedance spectrum. Results show that when the theory is applied to data acquired in the larger duct with a dominant higher-order vertical mode, the same impedance spectra is educed as that obtained in the small duct where only the plane wave mode is present and the benchmark method is used. This result holds for each higher-order vertical mode that is considered.

  19. Building a Culture of Collaboration in Schools

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Sutton, Paul S.; Shouse, Andrew W.

    2016-01-01

    Teaching is complex; teachers and school leaders crave more meaningful collaborative experiences to make sense of that complexity. However, the structural, cultural, and historical factors involved with schooling impede the extent to which teachers can collaborate. Teachers spend five to six periods of the day teaching classes, largely working in…

  20. Is the Routine Use of Impedance Analysis for the Diagnosis of Gastro-Esophageal Reflux Disease More Expensive than Conventional pH Monitoring? Cost Analysis of Two Procedures.

    PubMed

    Törer, Nurkan; Aytaç, Özgür

    2017-06-01

    Conventional 24-h pH monitoring is the gold standard for the diagnosis of non-erosive, non-acidic gastro-esophageal reflux disease. Multichannel Intraluminal Impedance (MII) analysis markedly improves diagnostic accuracy of non-erosive, non-acidic gastro-esophageal reflux disease. However, MII catheters are more expensive than standard catheters. This study aimed to determine the rates of acid or non-acid reflux and by making a retrospective projection, to predict the costs of two algorithms. We retrospectively reviewed the medical data of 102 patients who presented to our hospital with suspected non-erosive GERD and underwent 24 h impedance/pH-monitoring. Demographic characteristics, Demeester scores, number of reflux episodes, and results of impedance analysis were recorded. According to these data, cost was calculated either for the scenario in which impedance measurement was performed solely or following a negative conventional pH monitoring. Thirty-seven of all 102 patients (36.3 %) had a Demeester score greater than 14.7. These patients were assigned as group 1 (acid reflux). The impedance analysis of the remaining 65 patients detected 34 patients (33.3 %) to have more than 50 reflux episodes over a period of 24 h and assigned as Group 2, and 31 patients (30.4 %) had no reflux (group 3). The cost of the single- step algorithm using MII catheter was calculated as $15,300, while the total cost of two-step scenario would have been predicted as $16,890. Our study showed that an initial conventional pH monitoring can make the diagnosis of GERD in only one third of the patients with suspected non-erosive GERD. In nearly two-thirds of patients, however, repeated procedures and use of impedance catheters are needed. It is clear that this algorithm has certain drawbacks with regard to cost, patient comfort, and workforce loss.

  1. Frequency dispersions of human skin dielectrics.

    PubMed Central

    Poon, C S; Choy, T T

    1981-01-01

    The electrical properties of many biological materials are known to exhibit frequency dispersions. In the human skin, the impedance measured at various frequencies closely describes a circular locus of the Cole-Cole type in the complex impedance plane. In this report, the formative mechanisms responsible for the anomalous circular-arc behavior of skin impedance were investigated, using data from impedance measurements taken after successive strippings of the skin. The data were analyzed with respect to changes in the parameters of the equivalent Cole-Cole model after each stripping. For an exponential resistivity profile (Tregear, 1966, Physical Functions of Skin; Yamamoto and Yamamoto, 1976, Med. Biol. Eng., 14:151--158), the profile of the dielectric constant was shown to be uniform across the epidermis. Based on these results, a structural model has been formulated in terms of the relaxation theory of Maxwell and Wagner for inhomogeneous dielectric materials. The impedance locus obtained from the model approximates a circular are with phase constant alpha = 0.82, which compares favorably with experimental data. At higher frequencies a constant-phase, frequency-dependent component having the same phase constant alpha is also demonstrated. It is suggested that an approximately rectangular distribution of the relaxation time over the epidermal dielectric sheath is adequate to account for the anomalous frequency characteristics of human skin impedance. PMID:7213928

  2. Electrical Characterization of Complex Memories. Part II. Assessment of a Circuit Implementation to Measure EPROM Data Storage Margins.

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1981-01-01

    HIGH DESELECT DON’T CARE +5 V IMPEDANCE IH DON ’T HtIGH PO1WEAR DOWN VI1 +5 CARE IMPEDENCE PULSED PR RXPAM V TO V +25 v DATA NPRGA IL VIH VIl t PRORAM...VERIFY V +25 V DATA OUT IL IL PRARAM INHtIBIT VIL +25 VIH HIGH IMPEDANCE *[HIRESlHOLD MEASUREMENT +25V VARY V DATA OUT OV TO VT IL DFPR0GROVA +25V...VIL.C’E - VIH ) ! [l VCC Active Power Supply Current 57 100 mA 2 (5T C VIL) VPP Current (VPP - 5 25V) 6 mA 2.3 Vi.l Output High Voltage 24 Volts IOH -400

  3. Benzene oxidation at diamond electrodes: comparison of microcrystalline and nanocrystalline diamonds.

    PubMed

    Pleskov, Yu V; Krotova, M D; Elkin, V V; Varnin, V P; Teremetskaya, I G; Saveliev, A V; Ralchenko, V G

    2012-08-27

    A comparative study of benzene oxidation at boron-doped diamond (BDD) and nitrogenated nanocrystalline diamond (NCD) anodes in 0.5 M K(2)SO(4) aqueous solution is conducted by using cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. It is shown by measurements of differential capacitance and anodic current that during the benzene oxidation at the BDD electrode, adsorption of a reaction intermediate occurs, which partially blocks the electrode surface and lowers the anodic current. At the NCD electrode, benzene is oxidized concurrently with oxygen evolution, a (quinoid) intermediate being adsorbed at the electrode. The adsorption and the electrode surface blocking are reflected in the impedance-frequency and impedance-potential complex-plane plots. Copyright © 2012 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

  4. A low-cost and miniaturized potentiostat for sensing of biomolecular species such as TNF-α by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy.

    PubMed

    Pruna, Raquel; Palacio, Francisco; Baraket, Abdoullatif; Zine, Nadia; Streklas, Angelos; Bausells, Joan; Errachid, Abdelhamid; López, Manel

    2018-02-15

    Miniaturizing potentiostats, keeping their cost low and yet preserving full measurement characteristics (e.g. bandwidth, determination of capacitive/inductive contribution to sensor's impedance and parallel screening) is still an unresolved challenge in bioelectronics. In this work, the combination of simple analogue circuitry together with powerful microcontrollers and a digital filter implementation is presented as an alternative to complex and incomplete architectures reported in the literature. A low-cost acquisition electronic system fully integrated with a biosensors platform containing eight gold working microelectrodes and integrated reference and counter electrodes was developed and validated. The manufacturing cost of the prototype was kept below 300 USD. The performance of the proposed device was benchmarked against a commercial impedance analyzer through the electrochemical analysis of a highly sensitive biosensor for the detection of tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) within the randomly chosen range of 266pg/mL to 666ng/mL in physiological medium (PBS). A strong correlation between the outputs of both devices was found in a critical range of frequencies (1-10Hz), and several TNF-α cytokine concentrations were properly discriminated. These results are very promising for the development of low-cost, portable and miniaturized electrochemical systems for point-of-care and environmental diagnosis. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  5. A hybrid method for determination of the acoustic impedance of an unflanged cylindrical duct for multimode wave

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Snakowska, Anna; Jurkiewicz, Jerzy; Gorazd, Łukasz

    2017-05-01

    The paper presents derivation of the impedance matrix based on the rigorous solution of the wave equation obtained by the Wiener-Hopf technique for a semi-infinite unflanged cylindrical duct. The impedance matrix allows, in turn, calculate the acoustic impedance along the duct and, as a special case, the radiation impedance. The analysis is carried out for a multimode incident wave accounting for modes coupling on the duct outlet not only qualitatively but also quantitatively for a selected source operating inside. The quantitative evaluation of the acoustic impedance requires setting of modes amplitudes which has been obtained applying the mode decomposition method to the far-field pressure radiation measurements and theoretical formulae for single mode directivity characteristics for an unflanged duct. Calculation of the acoustic impedance for a non-uniform distribution of the sound pressure and the sound velocity on a duct cross section requires determination of the acoustic power transmitted along/radiated from a duct. In the paper, the impedance matrix, the power, and the acoustic impedance were derived as functions of Helmholtz number and distance from the outlet.

  6. Cost-effective broad-band electrical impedance spectroscopy measurement circuit and signal analysis for piezo-materials and ultrasound transducers

    PubMed Central

    Lewis, George K; Lewis, George K; Olbricht, William

    2008-01-01

    This paper explains the circuitry and signal processing to perform electrical impedance spectroscopy on piezoelectric materials and ultrasound transducers. Here, we measure and compare the impedance spectra of 2−5 MHz piezoelectrics, but the methodology applies for 700 kHz–20 MHz ultrasonic devices as well. Using a 12 ns wide 5 volt pulsing circuit as an impulse, we determine the electrical impedance curves experimentally using Ohm's law and fast Fourier transform (FFT), and compare results with mathematical models. The method allows for rapid impedance measurement for a range of frequencies using a narrow input pulse, digital oscilloscope and FFT techniques. The technique compares well to current methodologies such as network and impedance analyzers while providing additional versatility in the electrical impedance measurement. The technique is theoretically simple, easy to implement and completed with ordinary laboratory instrumentation for minimal cost. PMID:19081773

  7. Impedance computations and beam-based measurements: A problem of discrepancy

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Smaluk, Victor

    2018-04-01

    High intensity of particle beams is crucial for high-performance operation of modern electron-positron storage rings, both colliders and light sources. The beam intensity is limited by the interaction of the beam with self-induced electromagnetic fields (wake fields) proportional to the vacuum chamber impedance. For a new accelerator project, the total broadband impedance is computed by element-wise wake-field simulations using computer codes. For a machine in operation, the impedance can be measured experimentally using beam-based techniques. In this article, a comparative analysis of impedance computations and beam-based measurements is presented for 15 electron-positron storage rings. The measured data and the predictions based on the computed impedance budgets show a significant discrepancy. Three possible reasons for the discrepancy are discussed: interference of the wake fields excited by a beam in adjacent components of the vacuum chamber, effect of computation mesh size, and effect of insufficient bandwidth of the computed impedance.

  8. Static and Dynamic Reservoir Characterization Using High Resolution P-Wave Velocity Data in Delhi Field, la

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hussain, S.; Davis, T.

    2012-12-01

    Static and dynamic reservoir characterization was done on high resolution P-wave seismic data in Delhi Field, LA to study the complex stratigraphy of the Holt-Bryant sands and to delineate the CO2 flow path. The field is undergoing CO2 injection for enhanced oil recovery. The seismic data was bandwidth extended by Geotrace to decrease the tuning thickness effect. Once the authenticity of the added frequencies in the data was determined, the interpretation helped map thin Tuscaloosa and Paluxy sands. Cross-equalization was done on the baseline and monitor surveys to remove the non-repeatable noise in the data. Acoustic impedance (AI) inversion was done on the baseline and monitor surveys to map the changes in AI with CO2 injection in the field. Figure 1 shows the AI percentage change at Base Paluxy. The analysis helped identify areas that were not being swept by CO2. Figure 2 shows the CO2 flow paths in Tuscaloosa formation. The percentage change of AI with CO2 injection and pressure increase corresponded with the fluid substitution modeling results. Time-lapse interpretation helped in delineating the channels, high permeability zones and the bypassed zones in the reservoir.; Figure 1: P-impedance percentage difference map with a 2 ms window centered at the base of Paluxy with the production data from June 2010 overlain; the black dashed line is the oil-water contact; notice the negative impedance change below the OWC. The lighter yellow color shows area where Paluxy is not being swept completely. ; Figure 2: P-impedance percentage difference map at TUSC 7 top; the white triangles are TUSC 7 injectors and the white circles are TUSC 7 producers; the black polygons show the flow paths of CO2.

  9. Intrinsic electrical properties of LuFe2O4

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lafuerza, Sara; García, Joaquín; Subías, Gloria; Blasco, Javier; Conder, Kazimierz; Pomjakushina, Ekaterina

    2013-08-01

    We here revisit the electrical properties of LuFe2O4, compound candidate for exhibiting multiferroicity. Measurements of dc electrical resistivity as a function of temperature, electric-field polarization measurements at low temperatures with and without magnetic field, and complex impedance as a function of both frequency and temperature were carried out in a LuFe2O4 single crystal, perpendicular and parallel to the hexagonal c axis, and in several ceramic polycrystalline samples. Resistivity measurements reveal that this material is a highly anisotropic semiconductor, being about two orders of magnitude more resistive along the c axis. The temperature dependence of the resistivity indicates a change in the conduction mechanism at TCO ≈ 320 K from thermal activation above TCO to variable range hopping below TCO. The resistivity values at room temperature are relatively small and are below 5000 Ω cm for all samples but we carried out polarization measurements at sufficiently low temperatures, showing that electric-field polarization curves are a straight line as expected for a paraelectric or antiferroelectric material. Furthermore, no differences are found in the polarization curves when a magnetic field is applied either parallel or perpendicular to the electric field. The analysis of the complex impedance data corroborates that the claimed colossal dielectric constant is a spurious effect mainly derived from the capacitance of the electrical contacts. Therefore, our data unequivocally evidence that LuFe2O4 is not ferroelectric.

  10. Hemodynamics assessed via approximate entropy analysis of impedance cardiography time series: effect of metabolic syndrome.

    PubMed

    Guerra, Stefania; Boscari, Federico; Avogaro, Angelo; Di Camillo, Barbara; Sparacino, Giovanni; de Kreutzenberg, Saula Vigili

    2011-08-01

    The metabolic syndrome (MS), a predisposing condition for cardiovascular disease, presents disturbances in hemodynamics; impedance cardiography (ICG) can assess these alterations. In subjects with MS, the morphology of the pulses present in the ICG time series is more irregular/complex than in normal subjects. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to quantitatively assess the complexity of ICG times series in 53 patients, with or without MS, through a nonlinear analysis algorithm, the approximate entropy, a method employed in recent years for the study of several biological signals, which provides a scalar index, ApEn. We correlated ApEn computed from ICG times series data during fasting and postprandial phase with the presence of alterations in the parameters defining MS [Adult Treatment Panel (ATP) III (Grundy SM, Brewer HB Jr, Cleeman JI, Smith SC Jr, Lenfant C; National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute; American Heart Association. Circulation 109: 433-438, 2004) and the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) definition]. Results show that ApEn was significantly higher in subjects with MS compared with those without (1.81 ± 0.09 vs. 1.65 ± 0.13; means ± SD; P = 0.0013, with ATP III definition; 1.82 ± 0.09 vs. 1.67 ± 0.12; P = 0.00006, with the IDF definition). We also demonstrated that ApEn increase parallels the number of components of MS. ApEn was then correlated to each MS component: mean ApEn values of subjects belonging to the first and fourth quartiles of the distribution of MS parameters were statistically different for all parameters but HDL cholesterol. No difference was observed between ApEn values evaluated in fasting and postprandial states. In conclusion, we identified that MS is characterized by an increased complexity of ICG signals: this may have a prognostic relevance in subjects with this condition.

  11. A New Acoustic Portal into the Odontocete Ear and Vibrational Analysis of the Tympanoperiotic Complex

    PubMed Central

    Cranford, Ted W.; Krysl, Petr; Amundin, Mats

    2010-01-01

    Global concern over the possible deleterious effects of noise on marine organisms was catalyzed when toothed whales stranded and died in the presence of high intensity sound. The lack of knowledge about mechanisms of hearing in toothed whales prompted our group to study the anatomy and build a finite element model to simulate sound reception in odontocetes. The primary auditory pathway in toothed whales is an evolutionary novelty, compensating for the impedance mismatch experienced by whale ancestors as they moved from hearing in air to hearing in water. The mechanism by which high-frequency vibrations pass from the low density fats of the lower jaw into the dense bones of the auditory apparatus is a key to understanding odontocete hearing. Here we identify a new acoustic portal into the ear complex, the tympanoperiotic complex (TPC) and a plausible mechanism by which sound is transduced into the bony components. We reveal the intact anatomic geometry using CT scanning, and test functional preconceptions using finite element modeling and vibrational analysis. We show that the mandibular fat bodies bifurcate posteriorly, attaching to the TPC in two distinct locations. The smaller branch is an inconspicuous, previously undescribed channel, a cone-shaped fat body that fits into a thin-walled bony funnel just anterior to the sigmoid process of the TPC. The TPC also contains regions of thin translucent bone that define zones of differential flexibility, enabling the TPC to bend in response to sound pressure, thus providing a mechanism for vibrations to pass through the ossicular chain. The techniques used to discover the new acoustic portal in toothed whales, provide a means to decipher auditory filtering, beam formation, impedance matching, and transduction. These tools can also be used to address concerns about the potential deleterious effects of high-intensity sound in a broad spectrum of marine organisms, from whales to fish. PMID:20694149

  12. A new acoustic portal into the odontocete ear and vibrational analysis of the tympanoperiotic complex.

    PubMed

    Cranford, Ted W; Krysl, Petr; Amundin, Mats

    2010-08-04

    Global concern over the possible deleterious effects of noise on marine organisms was catalyzed when toothed whales stranded and died in the presence of high intensity sound. The lack of knowledge about mechanisms of hearing in toothed whales prompted our group to study the anatomy and build a finite element model to simulate sound reception in odontocetes. The primary auditory pathway in toothed whales is an evolutionary novelty, compensating for the impedance mismatch experienced by whale ancestors as they moved from hearing in air to hearing in water. The mechanism by which high-frequency vibrations pass from the low density fats of the lower jaw into the dense bones of the auditory apparatus is a key to understanding odontocete hearing. Here we identify a new acoustic portal into the ear complex, the tympanoperiotic complex (TPC) and a plausible mechanism by which sound is transduced into the bony components. We reveal the intact anatomic geometry using CT scanning, and test functional preconceptions using finite element modeling and vibrational analysis. We show that the mandibular fat bodies bifurcate posteriorly, attaching to the TPC in two distinct locations. The smaller branch is an inconspicuous, previously undescribed channel, a cone-shaped fat body that fits into a thin-walled bony funnel just anterior to the sigmoid process of the TPC. The TPC also contains regions of thin translucent bone that define zones of differential flexibility, enabling the TPC to bend in response to sound pressure, thus providing a mechanism for vibrations to pass through the ossicular chain. The techniques used to discover the new acoustic portal in toothed whales, provide a means to decipher auditory filtering, beam formation, impedance matching, and transduction. These tools can also be used to address concerns about the potential deleterious effects of high-intensity sound in a broad spectrum of marine organisms, from whales to fish.

  13. High input impedance amplifier

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Kleinberg, Leonard L.

    1995-01-01

    High input impedance amplifiers are provided which reduce the input impedance solely to a capacitive reactance, or, in a somewhat more complex design, provide an extremely high essentially infinite, capacitive reactance. In one embodiment, where the input impedance is reduced in essence, to solely a capacitive reactance, an operational amplifier in a follower configuration is driven at its non-inverting input and a resistor with a predetermined magnitude is connected between the inverting and non-inverting inputs. A second embodiment eliminates the capacitance from the input by adding a second stage to the first embodiment. The second stage is a second operational amplifier in a non-inverting gain-stage configuration where the output of the first follower stage drives the non-inverting input of the second stage and the output of the second stage is fed back to the non-inverting input of the first stage through a capacitor of a predetermined magnitude. These amplifiers, while generally useful, are very useful as sensor buffer amplifiers that may eliminate significant sources of error.

  14. How do clarinet players adjust the resonances of their vocal tracts for different playing effects?

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Fritz, Claudia; Wolfe, Joe

    2005-11-01

    In a simple model, the reed of the clarinet is mechanically loaded by the series combination of the acoustical impedances of the instrument itself and of the player's airway. Here we measure the complex impedance spectrum of players' airways using an impedance head adapted to fit inside a clarinet mouthpiece. A direct current shunt with high acoustical resistance allows players to blow normally, so the players can simulate the tract condition under playing conditions. The reproducibility of the results suggest that the players' ``muscle memory'' is reliable for this task. Most players use a single, highly stable vocal tract configuration over most of the playing range, except for the altissimo register. However, this ``normal'' configuration varies substantially among musicians. All musicians change the configuration, often drastically for ``special effects'' such as glissandi and slurs: the tongue is lowered and the impedance magnitude reduced when the player intends to lower the pitch or to slur downwards, and vice versa.

  15. A Review of Electrical Impedance Spectrometry Methods for Parametric Estimation of Physiologic Fluid Volumes

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Dewberry, B.

    2000-01-01

    Electrical impedance spectrometry involves measurement of the complex resistance of a load at multiple frequencies. With this information in the form of impedance magnitude and phase, or resistance and reactance, basic structure or function of the load can be estimated. The "load" targeted for measurement and estimation in this study consisted of the water-bearing tissues of the human calf. It was proposed and verified that by measuring the electrical impedance of the human calf and fitting this data to a model of fluid compartments, the lumped-model volume of intracellular and extracellular spaces could be estimated, By performing this estimation over time, the volume dynamics during application of stimuli which affect the direction of gravity can be viewed. The resulting data can form a basis for further modeling and verification of cardiovascular and compartmental modeling of fluid reactions to microgravity as well as countermeasures to the headward shift of fluid during head-down tilt or spaceflight.

  16. Organic electrochemical transistors for cell-based impedance sensing

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Rivnay, Jonathan, E-mail: rivnay@emse.fr, E-mail: owens@emse.fr; Ramuz, Marc; Hama, Adel

    2015-01-26

    Electrical impedance sensing of biological systems, especially cultured epithelial cell layers, is now a common technique to monitor cell motion, morphology, and cell layer/tissue integrity for high throughput toxicology screening. Existing methods to measure electrical impedance most often rely on a two electrode configuration, where low frequency signals are challenging to obtain for small devices and for tissues with high resistance, due to low current. Organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs) are conducting polymer-based devices, which have been shown to efficiently transduce and amplify low-level ionic fluxes in biological systems into electronic output signals. In this work, we combine OECT-based drain currentmore » measurements with simultaneous measurement of more traditional impedance sensing using the gate current to produce complex impedance traces, which show low error at both low and high frequencies. We apply this technique in vitro to a model epithelial tissue layer and show that the data can be fit to an equivalent circuit model yielding trans-epithelial resistance and cell layer capacitance values in agreement with literature. Importantly, the combined measurement allows for low biases across the cell layer, while still maintaining good broadband signal.« less

  17. Development on electromagnetic impedance function modeling and its estimation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sutarno, D.

    2015-09-01

    Today the Electromagnetic methods such as magnetotellurics (MT) and controlled sources audio MT (CSAMT) is used in a broad variety of applications. Its usefulness in poor seismic areas and its negligible environmental impact are integral parts of effective exploration at minimum cost. As exploration was forced into more difficult areas, the importance of MT and CSAMT, in conjunction with other techniques, has tended to grow continuously. However, there are obviously important and difficult problems remaining to be solved concerning our ability to collect process and interpret MT as well as CSAMT in complex 3D structural environments. This talk aim at reviewing and discussing the recent development on MT as well as CSAMT impedance functions modeling, and also some improvements on estimation procedures for the corresponding impedance functions. In MT impedance modeling, research efforts focus on developing numerical method for computing the impedance functions of three dimensionally (3-D) earth resistivity models. On that reason, 3-D finite elements numerical modeling for the impedances is developed based on edge element method. Whereas, in the CSAMT case, the efforts were focused to accomplish the non-plane wave problem in the corresponding impedance functions. Concerning estimation of MT and CSAMT impedance functions, researches were focused on improving quality of the estimates. On that objective, non-linear regression approach based on the robust M-estimators and the Hilbert transform operating on the causal transfer functions, were used to dealing with outliers (abnormal data) which are frequently superimposed on a normal ambient MT as well as CSAMT noise fields. As validated, the proposed MT impedance modeling method gives acceptable results for standard three dimensional resistivity models. Whilst, the full solution based modeling that accommodate the non-plane wave effect for CSAMT impedances is applied for all measurement zones, including near-, transition-as well as the far-field zones, and consequently the plane wave correction is no longer needed for the impedances. In the resulting robust impedance estimates, outlier contamination is removed and the self consistency between the real and imaginary parts of the impedance estimates is guaranteed. Using synthetic and real MT data, it is shown that the proposed robust estimation methods always yield impedance estimates which are better than the conventional least square (LS) estimation, even under condition of severe noise contamination. A recent development on the constrained robust CSAMT impedance estimation is also discussed. By using synthetic CSAMT data it is demonstrated that the proposed methods can produce usable CSAMT transfer functions for all measurement zones.

  18. Development on electromagnetic impedance function modeling and its estimation

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Sutarno, D., E-mail: Sutarno@fi.itb.ac.id

    2015-09-30

    Today the Electromagnetic methods such as magnetotellurics (MT) and controlled sources audio MT (CSAMT) is used in a broad variety of applications. Its usefulness in poor seismic areas and its negligible environmental impact are integral parts of effective exploration at minimum cost. As exploration was forced into more difficult areas, the importance of MT and CSAMT, in conjunction with other techniques, has tended to grow continuously. However, there are obviously important and difficult problems remaining to be solved concerning our ability to collect process and interpret MT as well as CSAMT in complex 3D structural environments. This talk aim atmore » reviewing and discussing the recent development on MT as well as CSAMT impedance functions modeling, and also some improvements on estimation procedures for the corresponding impedance functions. In MT impedance modeling, research efforts focus on developing numerical method for computing the impedance functions of three dimensionally (3-D) earth resistivity models. On that reason, 3-D finite elements numerical modeling for the impedances is developed based on edge element method. Whereas, in the CSAMT case, the efforts were focused to accomplish the non-plane wave problem in the corresponding impedance functions. Concerning estimation of MT and CSAMT impedance functions, researches were focused on improving quality of the estimates. On that objective, non-linear regression approach based on the robust M-estimators and the Hilbert transform operating on the causal transfer functions, were used to dealing with outliers (abnormal data) which are frequently superimposed on a normal ambient MT as well as CSAMT noise fields. As validated, the proposed MT impedance modeling method gives acceptable results for standard three dimensional resistivity models. Whilst, the full solution based modeling that accommodate the non-plane wave effect for CSAMT impedances is applied for all measurement zones, including near-, transition-as well as the far-field zones, and consequently the plane wave correction is no longer needed for the impedances. In the resulting robust impedance estimates, outlier contamination is removed and the self consistency between the real and imaginary parts of the impedance estimates is guaranteed. Using synthetic and real MT data, it is shown that the proposed robust estimation methods always yield impedance estimates which are better than the conventional least square (LS) estimation, even under condition of severe noise contamination. A recent development on the constrained robust CSAMT impedance estimation is also discussed. By using synthetic CSAMT data it is demonstrated that the proposed methods can produce usable CSAMT transfer functions for all measurement zones.« less

  19. FDTD modeling of thin impedance sheets

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Luebbers, Raymond; Kunz, Karl

    1991-01-01

    Thin sheets of resistive or dielectric material are commonly encountered in radar cross section calculations. Analysis of such sheets is simplified by using sheet impedances. It is shown that sheet impedances can be modeled easily and accurately using Finite Difference Time Domain (FDTD) methods. These sheets are characterized by a discontinuity in the tangential magnetic field on either side of the sheet but no discontinuity in tangential electric field. This continuity, or single valued behavior of the electric field, allows the sheet current to be expressed in terms of an impedance multiplying this electric field.

  20. ADAM: analysis of discrete models of biological systems using computer algebra.

    PubMed

    Hinkelmann, Franziska; Brandon, Madison; Guang, Bonny; McNeill, Rustin; Blekherman, Grigoriy; Veliz-Cuba, Alan; Laubenbacher, Reinhard

    2011-07-20

    Many biological systems are modeled qualitatively with discrete models, such as probabilistic Boolean networks, logical models, Petri nets, and agent-based models, to gain a better understanding of them. The computational complexity to analyze the complete dynamics of these models grows exponentially in the number of variables, which impedes working with complex models. There exist software tools to analyze discrete models, but they either lack the algorithmic functionality to analyze complex models deterministically or they are inaccessible to many users as they require understanding the underlying algorithm and implementation, do not have a graphical user interface, or are hard to install. Efficient analysis methods that are accessible to modelers and easy to use are needed. We propose a method for efficiently identifying attractors and introduce the web-based tool Analysis of Dynamic Algebraic Models (ADAM), which provides this and other analysis methods for discrete models. ADAM converts several discrete model types automatically into polynomial dynamical systems and analyzes their dynamics using tools from computer algebra. Specifically, we propose a method to identify attractors of a discrete model that is equivalent to solving a system of polynomial equations, a long-studied problem in computer algebra. Based on extensive experimentation with both discrete models arising in systems biology and randomly generated networks, we found that the algebraic algorithms presented in this manuscript are fast for systems with the structure maintained by most biological systems, namely sparseness and robustness. For a large set of published complex discrete models, ADAM identified the attractors in less than one second. Discrete modeling techniques are a useful tool for analyzing complex biological systems and there is a need in the biological community for accessible efficient analysis tools. ADAM provides analysis methods based on mathematical algorithms as a web-based tool for several different input formats, and it makes analysis of complex models accessible to a larger community, as it is platform independent as a web-service and does not require understanding of the underlying mathematics.

  1. Operator dynamics for stability condition in haptic and teleoperation system: A survey.

    PubMed

    Li, Hongbing; Zhang, Lei; Kawashima, Kenji

    2018-04-01

    Currently, haptic systems ignore the varying impedance of the human hand with its countless configurations and thus cannot recreate the complex haptic interactions. The literature does not reveal a comprehensive survey on the methods proposed and this study is an attempt to bridge this gap. The paper includes an extensive review of human arm impedance modeling and control deployed to address inherent stability and transparency issues in haptic interaction and teleoperation systems. Detailed classification and comparative study of various contributions in human arm modeling are presented and summarized in tables and diagrams. The main challenges in modeling human arm impedance for haptic robotic applications are identified. The possible future research directions are outlined based on the gaps identified in the survey. Copyright © 2018 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  2. INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON SEMICONDUCTOR INJECTION LASERS SELCO-87: High-frequency impedance and spontaneous carrier lifetime in narrow-stripe semiconductor injection lasers

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hoernlein, W.

    1988-11-01

    Measurements were made of the complex reflection coefficient of hf (10-400 MHz) signals from semiconductor injection lasers supplied with a direct bias current ranging from several milliamperes up to the threshold value or higher. The hf impedance was calculated. The parameters of the equivalent electrical circuit made it possible to predict the modulation characteristics. The impedance corresponding to currents below the lasing threshold was used to find the differential carrier lifetime from the RC constant of the p-n junction of a laser diode. A description of the apparatus is supplemented by an account of the method used in calculation of the electrical parameters and carrier lifetimes. The first results obtained using this apparatus and method are reported.

  3. Electrochemical Impedance Analysis of a PEDOT:PSS-Based Textile Energy Storage Device

    PubMed Central

    Gokceoren, Argun Talat; Odhiambo, Sheilla Atieno; De Mey, Gilbert; Hertleer, Carla; Van Langenhove, Lieva

    2017-01-01

    A textile-based energy storage device with electroactive PEDOT:PSS (poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)/poly(4-styrenesulfonate)) polymer functioning as a solid-state polyelectrolyte has been developed. The device was fabricated on textile fabric with two plies of stainless-steel electroconductive yarn as the electrodes. In this study, cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance analysis were used to investigate ionic and electronic activities in the bulk of PEDOT:PSS and at its interfaces with stainless steel yarn electrodes. The complex behavior of ionic and electronic origins was observed in the interfacial region between the conductive polymer and the electrodes. The migration and diffusion of the ions involved were confirmed by the presence of the Warburg element with a phase shift of 45° (n = 0.5). Two different equivalent circuit models were found by simulating the model with the experimental results: (QR)(QR)(QR) for uncharged and (QR)(QR)(Q(RW)) for charged samples. The analyses also showed that the further the distance between electrodes, the lower the capacitance of the cell. The distribution of polymer on the cell surface also played important role to change the capacitance of the device. The results of this work may lead to a better understanding of the mechanism and how to improve the performance of the device. PMID:29283427

  4. Non-contact multi-frequency magnetic induction spectroscopy system for industrial-scale bio-impedance measurement

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    O'Toole, M. D.; Marsh, L. A.; Davidson, J. L.; Tan, Y. M.; Armitage, D. W.; Peyton, A. J.

    2015-03-01

    Biological tissues have a complex impedance, or bio-impedance, profile which changes with respect to frequency. This is caused by dispersion mechanisms which govern how the electromagnetic field interacts with the tissue at the cellular and molecular level. Measuring the bio-impedance spectra of a biological sample can potentially provide insight into the sample’s properties and its cellular structure. This has obvious applications in the medical, pharmaceutical and food-based industrial domains. However, measuring the bio-impedance spectra non-destructively and in a way which is practical at an industrial scale presents substantial challenges. The low conductivity of the sample requires a highly sensitive instrument, while the demands of industrial-scale operation require a fast high-throughput sensor of rugged design. In this paper, we describe a multi-frequency magnetic induction spectroscopy (MIS) system suitable for industrial-scale, non-contact, spectroscopic bio-impedance measurement over a bandwidth of 156 kHz-2.5 MHz. The system sensitivity and performance are investigated using calibration and known reference samples. It is shown to yield rapid and consistently sensitive results with good long-term stability. The system is then used to obtain conductivity spectra of a number of biological test samples, including yeast suspensions of varying concentration and a range of agricultural produce, such as apples, pears, nectarines, kiwis, potatoes, oranges and tomatoes.

  5. Giant magneto-impedance and magneto-inductive effects in amorphous alloys

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Panina, L. V.; Mohri, K.; Bushida, K.; Noda, M.

    1994-11-01

    Recent experiments have discovered giant and sensitive magneto-impedance and magneto-inductive effects in FeCoSiB amorphous wires. These effects include a sensitive change in an ac wire voltage with the application of a small dc longitudinal magnetic field. At low frequencies (1-10 kHz) the inductive voltage drops by 50% for a field of 2 Oe (25%/Oe) reflecting a strong field dependence of the circumferential permeability. At higher frequencies (0.1-10 MHz) when the skin effect is essential, the amplitude of the total wire voltage decreases by 40%-60% for fields of 3-10 Oe (about 10%/Oe). These effects exhibit no hysteresis for the variation of an applied field and can be obtained even in wires of 1 mm length and a few micrometer diameter. These characteristics are very useful to constitute a highly sensitive microsensor head to detect local fields of the order of 10(exp -5) Oe. In this paper, we review recently obtained experimental results on magneto-inductive and magneto-impedance effects and present a detailed discussion for their mechanism, developing a general approach in terms of ac complex impedance in a magnetic conductor. In the case of a strong skin effect the total wire impedance depends on the circumferential permeability through the penetration depth, resulting in the giant magneto-impedance effect.

  6. A Calculation Method of Electric Distance and Subarea Division Application Based on Transmission Impedance

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Fang, G. J.; Bao, H.

    2017-12-01

    The widely used method of calculating electric distances is sensitivity method. The sensitivity matrix is the result of linearization and based on the hypothesis that the active power and reactive power are decoupled, so it is inaccurate. In addition, it calculates the ratio of two partial derivatives as the relationship of two dependent variables, so there is no physical meaning. This paper presents a new method for calculating electrical distance, namely transmission impedance method. It forms power supply paths based on power flow tracing, then establishes generalized branches to calculate transmission impedances. In this paper, the target of power flow tracing is S instead of Q. Q itself has no direction and the grid delivers complex power so that S contains more electrical information than Q. By describing the power transmission relationship of the branch and drawing block diagrams in both forward and reverse directions, it can be found that the numerators of feedback parts of two block diagrams are all the transmission impedances. To ensure the distance is scalar, the absolute value of transmission impedance is defined as electrical distance. Dividing network according to the electric distances and comparing with the results of sensitivity method, it proves that the transmission impedance method can adapt to the dynamic change of system better and reach a reasonable subarea division scheme.

  7. Application of conformal transformation to elliptic geometry for electric impedance tomography.

    PubMed

    Yilmaz, Atila; Akdoğan, Kurtuluş E; Saka, Birsen

    2008-03-01

    Electrical impedance tomography (EIT) is a medical imaging modality that is used to compute the conductivity distribution through measurements on the cross-section of a body part. An elliptic geometry model, which defines a more general frame, ensures more accurate results in reconstruction and assessment of inhomogeneities inside. This study provides a link between the analytical solutions defined in circular and elliptical geometries on the basis of the computation of conformal mapping. The results defined as voltage distributions for the homogeneous case in elliptic and circular geometries have been compared with those obtained by the use of conformal transformation between elliptical and well-known circular geometry. The study also includes the results of the finite element method (FEM) as another approach for more complex geometries for the comparison of performance in other complex scenarios for eccentric inhomogeneities. The study emphasizes that for the elliptic case the analytical solution with conformal transformation is a reliable and useful tool for developing insight into more complex forms including eccentric inhomogeneities.

  8. Electrical Conductivity, Relaxation and the Glass Transition: A New Look at a Familiar Phenomenon

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Angel, Paul W.; Cooper, Alfred R.; DeGuire, Mark R.

    1996-01-01

    Annealed samples from a single melt of a 10 mol% K2O-90SiO2 glass were reheated to temperatures ranging from 450 to 800 C, held isothermally for 20 min, and then quenched in either air or a silicon oil bath. The complex impedance of both the annealed and quenched samples was measured as a function of temperature from 120 to 250 C using ac impedance spectroscopy from 1 Hz to 1 MHz. The dc conductivity, sigma(sub dc), was measured from the low frequency intercept of depressed semicircle fits to the complex impedance data. When the sigma(sub dc) at 150 C was plotted against soak temperature, the results fell into three separate regions that are explained in terms of the glass structural relaxation time, tau(sub S). This sigma(sub dc) plot provides a new way to look the glass transition range, Delta T(sub r). In addition, sigma(sub dc) was measured for different soak times at 550 C, from which an average relaxation time of 7.3 min was calculated. It was found that the size and position of the Delta T(sub r) is controlled by both the soak time and cooling rate.

  9. A Review of the Scattering-Parameter Extraction Method with Clarification of Ambiguity Issues in Relation to Metamaterial Homogenization

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Arslanagic, S.; Hansen, T. V.; Mortensen, N. A.; Gregersen, A. H.; Sigmund, O.; Ziolkowski, R. W.; Breinbjerg, O.

    2013-04-01

    The scattering parameter extraction method of metamaterial homogenization is reviewed to show that the only ambiguity is the one related to the choice of the branch of the complex logarithmic function (or the complex inverse cosine function), whereas it has no ambiguity for the sign of the wave number and intrinsic impedance. While the method indeed yields two signs of the intrinsic impedance, and thus the wave number, the signs are dependent, and moreover, both sign combinations lead to the same permittivity and permeability, and are thus permissible. This observation is in distinct contrast to a number of statements in the literature where the correct sign of the intrinsic impedance and wave number, resulting from the scattering parameter method, is chosen by imposing additional physical requirements such as passivity. The scattering parameter method is reviewed through an investigation of a uniform plane wave normally incident on a planar slab in free-space, and the severity of the branch ambiguity is illustrated through simulations of a known metamaterial realization. Several approaches for proper branch selection are reviewed and their suitability to metamaterial samples is discussed.

  10. Analysis of different device-based intrathoracic impedance vectors for detection of heart failure events (from the Detect Fluid Early from Intrathoracic Impedance Monitoring study).

    PubMed

    Heist, E Kevin; Herre, John M; Binkley, Philip F; Van Bakel, Adrian B; Porterfield, James G; Porterfield, Linda M; Qu, Fujian; Turkel, Melanie; Pavri, Behzad B

    2014-10-15

    Detect Fluid Early from Intrathoracic Impedance Monitoring (DEFEAT-PE) is a prospective, multicenter study of multiple intrathoracic impedance vectors to detect pulmonary congestion (PC) events. Changes in intrathoracic impedance between the right ventricular (RV) coil and device can (RVcoil→Can) of implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) and cardiac resynchronization therapy ICDs (CRT-Ds) are used clinically for the detection of PC events, but other impedance vectors and algorithms have not been studied prospectively. An initial 75-patient study was used to derive optimal impedance vectors to detect PC events, with 2 vector combinations selected for prospective analysis in DEFEAT-PE (ICD vectors: RVring→Can + RVcoil→Can, detection threshold 13 days; CRT-D vectors: left ventricular ring→Can + RVcoil→Can, detection threshold 14 days). Impedance changes were considered true positive if detected <30 days before an adjudicated PC event. One hundred sixty-two patients were enrolled (80 with ICDs and 82 with CRT-Ds), all with ≥1 previous PC event. One hundred forty-four patients provided study data, with 214 patient-years of follow-up and 139 PC events. Sensitivity for PC events of the prespecified algorithms was as follows: ICD: sensitivity 32.3%, false-positive rate 1.28 per patient-year; CRT-D: sensitivity 32.4%, false-positive rate 1.66 per patient-year. An alternative algorithm, ultimately approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (RVring→Can + RVcoil→Can, detection threshold 14 days), resulted in (for all patients) sensitivity of 21.6% and a false-positive rate of 0.9 per patient-year. The CRT-D thoracic impedance vector algorithm selected in the derivation study was not superior to the ICD algorithm RVring→Can + RVcoil→Can when studied prospectively. In conclusion, to achieve an acceptably low false-positive rate, the intrathoracic impedance algorithms studied in DEFEAT-PE resulted in low sensitivity for the prediction of heart failure events. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  11. Structural and electrical properties of nickel substituted cadmium ferrite

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Chethan, B.; Raj Prakash, H. G.; Vijayakumari, S. C.; Ravikiran, Y. T.

    2018-05-01

    Spinal nano-sized Cadmium ferrite (CD) and Nickel substituted cadmium ferrite (NSCF) were fabricated by sol-gel auto combustion method. The formation of spinal structure of ferrite materials was confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. The crystallites size of CF and NSCF as determined by Scherrer's formula were found to be 24.73 nm and 17.70 nm respectively. comparative study of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) of CF and NSCF revealed tetrahedral absorption bands shifted slightly towards higher frequency where as octahedral bands shifted towards lower frequency side confirming interfacial interaction between Ni and CF. The AC conductivity (σ), loss tangent (tan δ) and complex plane impedance plots for both CF and NSCF are determined at various frequencies ranging from 50 kHz to 5 MHz and comparatively analyzed. The increase in AC conductivity of the NSCF nano particles as compared to CF was explained in the light of hopping model. The impedance measurement of NSCF show presence of a semi-circle corresponding to the grain boundary resistance and hence shows that the conductivity takes place largely through grain boundaries.

  12. Novel homo- and heterobinuclear ball-type phthalocyanines: synthesis and electrochemical, electrical, EPR and MCD spectral properties.

    PubMed

    Odabaş, Zafer; Dumludağ, Fatih; Ozkaya, Ali Riza; Yamauchi, Seigo; Kobayashi, Nagao; Bekaroğlu, Ozer

    2010-09-21

    The mononuclear Fe(II) phthalocyanine 2 and ball-type homobinuclear Fe(II)-Fe(II) and Cu(II)-Cu(II) phthalocyanines, 3 and 4 respectively, were synthesized from the corresponding 4,4'-[1,1'-methylenebis-(naphthalene-2,1-diyl)]bis(oxy)diphthalonitrile 1, and then ball-type heterobinuclear Fe(II)-Cu(II) phthalocyanine 5 was synthesized from 2. The novel compounds 4 and 5 have been characterized by elemental analysis, UV/vis, IR and MALDI-TOF mass spectroscopies. Electron paramagnetic resonance and magnetic circular dichroism measurements of 3, 4 and 5 were also examined. The voltammetric measurements of the complexes showed the formation of various electrochemically stable ligand- and metal-based mixed-valence species, due to the intramolecular interactions between the two MPc units, especially in ball-type binuclear iron(II) phthalocyanine. Impedance spectroscopy and d.c. conductivity measurements of 4 and 5 were performed as a function of temperature (295-523 K) and frequency (40-10(5) Hz). While room temperature impedance spectra consist of a curved line, a transformation into a full semicircle with increasing temperature was observed for both compounds.

  13. The impedance spectroscopy analysis of complex perovskite Sr2YbSbO6

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Barua, A.; Maity, S.; Mondal, R.; Kumar, S.

    2018-04-01

    Herein, we have reported the dielectric properties of single phase monoclinic double perovskite oxide of Sr2YbSbO6 having lattice parameter a=5.79 Å, b=5.79 Å, c=8.19 Å and β = 90.136° with grain size ranging between 0.5 to 2.4 µm. The sample has been synthesized by solid state ceramic method. We have performed the impedence spectroscopic study of the sample in the frequency range of 40 Hz to 5 MHz at various temperatures. The relaxation in the sample is polydispersive in nature and obeys the Cole-Cole model. The values of dielectric permittivity and loss tangent at room temperature are 117.94 and 0.18 respectively. The temperature variation of dc conductivity follows the Arrhenius Law with activation energy 0.2 eV and the conduction mechanism of the sample is governed by p-type polaron hopping. Due to its high dielectric permittivity and low loss tangent the sample can be fruitfully utilized for the fabrication of radio frequency devices.

  14. High temperature dielectric relaxation anomaly of Y³⁺ and Mn²⁺ doped barium strontium titanate ceramics

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Yan, Shiguang; Mao, Chaoliang, E-mail: maochaoliang@mail.sic.ac.cn, E-mail: xldong@mail.sic.ac.cn; Wang, Genshui

    2014-10-14

    Relaxation like dielectric anomaly is observed in Y³⁺ and Mn²⁺ doped barium strontium titanate ceramics when the temperature is over 450 K. Apart from the conventional dielectric relaxation analysis method with Debye or modified Debye equations, which is hard to give exact temperature dependence of the relaxation process, dielectric response in the form of complex impedance, assisted with Cole-Cole impedance model corrected equivalent circuits, is adopted to solve this problem and chase the polarization mechanism in this paper. Through this method, an excellent description to temperature dependence of the dielectric relaxation anomaly and its dominated factors are achieved. Further analysismore » reveals that the exponential decay of the Cole distribution parameter n with temperature is confirmed to be induced by the microscopic lattice distortion due to ions doping and the interaction between the defects. At last, a clear sight to polarization mechanism containing both the intrinsic dipolar polarization and extrinsic distributed oxygen vacancies hopping response under different temperature is obtained.« less

  15. Impedance-spectroscopy analysis of a LiTaO{sub 3}-type single crystal

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Ming, D.; Reau, J.M.; Ravez, J.

    1995-04-01

    Low-frequency dielectric dispersion phenomena in a LiTaO{sub 3}-type single crystal have been analyzed by impedance spectroscopy in directions parallel and perpendicular to the polar c-axis (rhombohedral system). An empirical expression has been deduced for the complex permittivity {epsilon}*({omega}), {epsilon}*({omega}) = {epsilon}{infinity} + {sup {epsilon}{sub s}-{epsilon}{infinity}}/{sub 1 + (i{omega}/{omega}{sub 1}){sup m}} + {sup {sigma}{sub 0}}/{sub {epsilon}{sub 0}{omega}} [1 + (i{omega}/{omega}{sub 2}){sup n}], where the ({omega}{sub 1}, m) and ({omega}{sub 2}, n) couples characterize respectively the lattice and the charge carrier responses. This relation may be considered as a generalization of the Cole-Cole dielectric expression. Excellent agreement has been obtained in amore » wide frequency domain (1-10{sup 6} Hz) between the measured and calculated permittivities in the 500-650{degrees}C temperature range ({Tc} = 600{degrees}C). The temperature dependence of various dielectrical parameters has been determined and discussed. The relaxations are correlated to Li atom motions.« less

  16. Archaeometric analysis of Roman bronze coins from the Magna Mater temple using solid-state voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy.

    PubMed

    Di Turo, Francesca; Montoya, Noemí; Piquero-Cilla, Joan; De Vito, Caterina; Coletti, Fulvio; Favero, Gabriele; Doménech-Carbó, Antonio

    2017-02-22

    Voltammetry of microparticles (VMP) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) techniques, complemented by SEM-EDX and Raman spectroscopy, were applied to a set of 15 Roman bronze coins and one Tessera from the temple of Magna Mater (Rome, Italy). The archaeological site, dated back between the second half and the end of the 4th century A.D., presented a complicated stratigraphic context. Characteristic voltammetric patterns for cuprite and tenorite for sub-microsamples of the corrosion layers of the coins deposited onto graphite electrodes in contact with 0.10 M HClO 4 aqueous solution yielded a grouping of the coins into three main groups. This grouping was confirmed and refined using EIS experiments of the coins immersed in air-saturated mineral water using the reduction of dissolved oxygen as a redox probe. The electrochemical grouping of coins corroborated the complex stratigraphy of the archaeological site and, above all, the reuse of the coins during the later periods due to the economic issues related to the fall of the Roman Empire. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  17. A Practical Approach for Analysis of Input and Output Impedances of Feedback Amplifiers

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Abramovitz, A.

    2009-01-01

    This paper suggests a pedagogical approach to teaching the subject of the analysis of feedback amplifiers for electrical engineering students at the undergraduate level. Special attention is given to derivation of the input and output impedances. In order to make the procedure clear and suitable for classroom presentation an alternative proof of…

  18. Trauma patient discharge and care transition experiences: Identifying opportunities for quality improvement in trauma centres.

    PubMed

    Gotlib Conn, Lesley; Zwaiman, Ashley; DasGupta, Tracey; Hales, Brigette; Watamaniuk, Aaron; Nathens, Avery B

    2018-01-01

    Challenges delivering quality care are especially salient during hospital discharge and care transitions. Severely injured patients discharged from a trauma centre will go either home, to rehabilitation or another acute care hospital with complex management needs. This purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of trauma patients and families treated in a regional academic trauma centre to better understand and improve their discharge and care transition experiences. A qualitative study using inductive thematic analysis was conducted between March and October 2016. Telephone interviews were conducted with trauma patients and/or a family member after discharge from the trauma centre. Data collection and analysis were completed inductively and iteratively consistent with a qualitative approach. Twenty-four interviews included 19 patients and 7 family members. Participants' experiences drew attention to discharge and transfer processes that either (1) Fostered quality discharge or (2) Impeded quality discharge. Fostering quality discharge was ward staff preparation efforts; establishing effective care continuity; and, adequate emotional support. Impeding discharge quality was perceived pressure to leave the hospital; imposed transfer decisions; and, sub-optimal communication and coordination around discharge. Patient-provider communication was viewed to be driven by system, rather than patient need. Inter-facility information gaps raised concern about receiving facilities' ability to care for injured patients. The quality of trauma patient discharge and transition experiences is undermined by system- and ward-level processes that compete, rather than align, in producing high quality patient-centred discharge. Local improvement solutions focused on modifiable factors within the trauma centre include patient-oriented discharge education and patient navigation; however, these approaches alone may be insufficient to enhance patient experiences. Trauma patients encounter complex barriers to quality discharge that likely require a comprehensive, multimodal intervention. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  19. Impedance computations and beam-based measurements: A problem of discrepancy

    DOE PAGES

    Smaluk, Victor

    2018-04-21

    High intensity of particle beams is crucial for high-performance operation of modern electron-positron storage rings, both colliders and light sources. The beam intensity is limited by the interaction of the beam with self-induced electromagnetic fields (wake fields) proportional to the vacuum chamber impedance. For a new accelerator project, the total broadband impedance is computed by element-wise wake-field simulations using computer codes. For a machine in operation, the impedance can be measured experimentally using beam-based techniques. In this article, a comparative analysis of impedance computations and beam-based measurements is presented for 15 electron-positron storage rings. The measured data and the predictionsmore » based on the computed impedance budgets show a significant discrepancy. For this article, three possible reasons for the discrepancy are discussed: interference of the wake fields excited by a beam in adjacent components of the vacuum chamber, effect of computation mesh size, and effect of insufficient bandwidth of the computed impedance.« less

  20. Impedance computations and beam-based measurements: A problem of discrepancy

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Smaluk, Victor

    High intensity of particle beams is crucial for high-performance operation of modern electron-positron storage rings, both colliders and light sources. The beam intensity is limited by the interaction of the beam with self-induced electromagnetic fields (wake fields) proportional to the vacuum chamber impedance. For a new accelerator project, the total broadband impedance is computed by element-wise wake-field simulations using computer codes. For a machine in operation, the impedance can be measured experimentally using beam-based techniques. In this article, a comparative analysis of impedance computations and beam-based measurements is presented for 15 electron-positron storage rings. The measured data and the predictionsmore » based on the computed impedance budgets show a significant discrepancy. For this article, three possible reasons for the discrepancy are discussed: interference of the wake fields excited by a beam in adjacent components of the vacuum chamber, effect of computation mesh size, and effect of insufficient bandwidth of the computed impedance.« less

  1. Whole-body impedance--what does it measure?

    PubMed

    Foster, K R; Lukaski, H C

    1996-09-01

    Although the bioelectrical impedance technique is widely used in human nutrition and clinical research, an integrated summary of the biophysical and bioelectrical bases of this approach is lacking. We summarize the pertinent electrical phenomena relevant to the application of the impedance technique in vivo and discuss the relations between electrical measurements and biological conductor volumes. Key terms in the derivation of bioelectrical impedance analysis are described and the relation between the electrical properties of tissues and tissue structure is discussed. The relation between the impedance of an object and its geometry, scale, and intrinsic electrical properties is also discussed. Correlations between whole-body impedance measurements and various bioconductor volumes, such as total body water and fat-free mass, are experimentally well established; however, the reason for the success of the impedence technique is much less clear. The bioengineering basis for the technique is critically presented and considerations are proposed that might help to clarify the method and potentially improve its sensitivity.

  2. Positional dependence of particles in microfludic impedance cytometry.

    PubMed

    Spencer, Daniel; Morgan, Hywel

    2011-04-07

    Single cell impedance cytometry is a label-free electrical analysis method that requires minimal sample preparation and has been used to count and discriminate cells on the basis of their impedance properties. This paper shows experimental and numerically simulated impedance signals for test particles (6 μm diameter polystyrene) flowing through a microfluidic channel. The variation of impedance signal with particle position is mapped using numerical simulation and these results match closely with experimental data. We demonstrate that for a nominal 40 μm × 40 μm channel, the impedance signal is independent of position over the majority of the channel area, but shows large experimentally verifiable variation at extreme positions. The parabolic flow profile in the channel ensures that most of the sample flows through the area of uniform signal. At high flow rates inertial focusing is observed; the particles flow in equal numbers through two equilibrium positions reducing the coefficient of variance (CV) in the impedance signals to negligible values.

  3. Vibration analysis of rotor systems using reduced subsystem models

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Fan, Uei-Jiun; Noah, Sherif T.

    1989-01-01

    A general impedance method using reduced submodels has been developed for the linear dynamic analysis of rotor systems. Formulated in terms of either modal or physical coordinates of the subsystems, the method enables imbalance responses at specific locations of the rotor systems to be efficiently determined from a small number of 'master' degrees of freedom. To demonstrate the capability of this impedance approach, the Space Shuttle Main Engine high-pressure oxygen turbopump has been investigated to determine the bearing loads due to imbalance. Based on the same formulation, an eigenvalue analysis has been performed to study the system stability. A small 5-DOF model has been utilized to illustrate the application of the method to eigenvalue analysis. Because of its inherent characteristics of allowing formulation of reduced submodels, the impedance method can significantly increase the computational speed.

  4. Improved Estimation of Electron Temperature from Rocket-borne Impedance Probes

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Rowland, D. E.; Wolfinger, K.; Stamm, J. D.

    2017-12-01

    The impedance probe technique is a well known method for determining high accuracy measurements of electron number density in the Earth's ionosphere. We present analysis of impedance probe data from several sounding rockets at low, mid-, and auroral latitudes, including high cadence estimates of the electron temperature, derived from analytical fits to the antenna impedance curves. These estimates compare favorably with independent estimates from Langmuir Probes, but at much higher temporal and spatial resolution, providing a capability to resolve small-scale temperature fluctuations. We also present some considerations for the design of impedance probes, including assessment of the effects of resonance damping due to rocket motion, effects of wake and spin modulation, and aspect angle to the magnetic field.

  5. Prediction of lamb carcass composition by impedance spectroscopy.

    PubMed

    Altmann, M; Pliquett, U; Suess, R; von Borell, E

    2004-03-01

    The objective of this study was to compare impedance spectroscopy with resistance measurements at a single frequency (50 kHz) for the prediction of lamb carcass composition. The impedance spectrum is usually recorded by measuring the complex impedance at various frequencies (frequency domain); however, in this study, we also applied the faster and simpler measurement in the time domain (application of a current step and measurement of the voltage response). The study was carried out on 24 male, German Black-headed Mutton lambs with an average BW of 45 kg. Frequency- and time domain-based impedance measurements were collected at 20 min and 24 h postmortem with different electrode placements. Real and imaginary parts at various frequencies were calculated from the locus diagram. Left sides were dissected into lean, fat, and bone, and right sides were ground to determine actual carcass composition. Crude fat, crude protein, and moisture were chemically analyzed on ground samples. Frequency- and time domain-based measurements did not provide the same absolute impedance values; however, the high correlations (P < 0.001) between these methods for the "real parts" showed that they ranked individuals in the same order. Most of the time domain data correlated higher to carcass composition than did the frequency domain data. The real parts of impedance showed correlations between -0.37 (P > 0.05) and -0.74 (P < 0.001) to water, crude fat, lean, and fatty tissue, whereas the relations to CP were much lower (from 0.00 to -0.47, P < 0.05). Electrode placements at different locations did not substantially improve the correlations with carcass composition. The "imaginary parts" of impedance were not suitable for the prediction of carcass composition. The highest accuracy (R2 = 0.66) was reached for the estimation of crude fat percentage by a regression equation with the time domain-based impedance measured at 24 h postmortem. Furthermore, there was not a clear superiority of measurements in a wide frequency range over a single frequency measurement at 50 kHz for the prediction of carcass composition. Even though we calculated the impedance at 50 kHz based on the locus diagram, which allowed for a high precision for predicting this impedance trait, single-frequency impedance devices typically used in practice cannot record the locus diagram and, therefore, exhibit a greater amount of uncertainty.

  6. [Abdomen specific bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) methods for evaluation of abdominal fat distribution].

    PubMed

    Ida, Midori; Hirata, Masakazu; Hosoda, Kiminori; Nakao, Kazuwa

    2013-02-01

    Two novel bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) methods have been developed recently for evaluation of intra-abdominal fat accumulation. Both methods use electrodes that are placed on abdominal wall and allow evaluation of intra-abdominal fat area (IAFA) easily without radiation exposure. Of these, "abdominal BIA" method measures impedance distribution along abdominal anterior-posterior axis, and IAFA by BIA method(BIA-IAFA) is calculated from waist circumference and the voltage occurring at the flank. Dual BIA method measures impedance of trunk and body surface at the abdominal level and calculates BIA-IAFA from transverse and antero-posterior diameters of the abdomen and the impedance of trunk and abdominal surface. BIA-IAFA by these two BIA methods correlated well with IAFA measured by abdominal CT (CT-IAFA) with correlatipn coefficient of 0.88 (n = 91, p < 0.0001) for the former, and 0.861 (n = 469, p < 0.01) for the latter. These new BIA methods are useful for evaluating abdominal adiposity in clinical study and routine clinical practice of metabolic syndrome and obesity.

  7. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy analysis of a thin polymer film-based micro-direct methanol fuel cell

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Schulz, Tobias; Weinmüller, Christian; Nabavi, Majid; Poulikakos, Dimos

    A single cell micro-direct methanol fuel cell (micro-DMFC) was investigated using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The electrodes consisted of thin, flexible polymer (SU8) film microchannel structures fabricated in-house using microfabrication techniques. AC impedance spectroscopy was used to separate contributions to the overall cell polarization from the anode, cathode and membrane. A clear distinction between the different electrochemical phenomena occurring in the micro-DMFC, especially the distinction between double layer charging and Faradaic reactions was shown. The effect of fuel flow rate, temperature, and anode flow channel structure on the impedance of the electrode reactions and membrane/electrode double layer charging were investigated. Analysis of impedance data revealed that the performance of the test cell was largely limited by the presence of intermediate carbon monoxide in the anode reaction. Higher temperatures increase cell performance by enabling intermediate CO to be oxidized at much higher rates. The results also revealed that serpentine anode flow microchannels show a lower tendency to intermediate CO coverage and a more stable cell behavior than parallel microchannels.

  8. Energy absorption as a predictor of leg impedance in highly trained females.

    PubMed

    Kulas, Anthony S; Schmitz, Randy J; Schultz, Sandra J; Watson, Mary Allen; Perrin, David H

    2006-08-01

    Although leg spring stiffness represents active muscular recruitment of the lower extremity during dynamic tasks such as hopping and running, the joint-specific characteristics comprising the damping portion of this measure, leg impedance, are uncertain. The purpose of this investigation was to assess the relationship between leg impedance and energy absorption at the ankle, knee, and hip during early (impact) and late (stabilization) phases of landing. Twenty highly trained female dancers (age = 20.3 +/- 1.4 years, height = 163.7 +/- 6.0 cm, mass = 62.1 +/- 8.1 kg) were instrumented for biomechanical analysis. Subjects performed three sets of double-leg landings from under preferred, stiff, and soft landing conditions. A stepwise linear regression analysis revealed that ankle and knee energy absorption at impact, and knee and hip energy absorption during the stabilization phases of landing explained 75.5% of the variance in leg impedance. The primary predictor of leg impedance was knee energy absorption during the stabilization phase, independently accounting for 55% of the variance. Future validation studies applying this regression model to other groups of individuals are warranted.

  9. Graphical Acoustic Liner Design and Analysis Tool

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Howerton, Brian M. (Inventor); Jones, Michael G. (Inventor)

    2016-01-01

    An interactive liner design and impedance modeling tool comprises software utilized to design acoustic liners for use in constrained spaces, both regularly and irregularly shaped. A graphical user interface allows the acoustic channel geometry to be drawn in a liner volume while the surface impedance calculations are updated and displayed in real-time. A one-dimensional transmission line model may be used as the basis for the impedance calculations.

  10. Tissue electrical properties measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis among healthy and sportsmen population

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kapica, Dominik; Warchulińska, Joanna; Jakubiak, Monika; Teter, Mariusz; Mlak, Radosław; Hałabiś, Magdalena; Wójcik, Waldemar; Małecka-Massalska, Teresa

    2015-09-01

    Introduction: Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) is a useful tool to asses human body composition and nutrition status; multi-frequency BIA has a higher accuracy than single-frequency BIA. In our study a difference of impedance values (Z) at 5, 100 and 200 kHz and Z200/Z5 index between professional athletes and control group were determined. Methods: In this research 105 people were tested, divided into control group (72 people: 35 males and 37 females) and professional athletes (33 people: 16 males and 17 females). Impedance was measured at three frequency values - 5, 100 and 200 kHz; with received values the Z200/Z5 index was calculated. Results: In most compared subgroups impedance values showed significantly lower values in athletes than in control group (5 kHz - males: p=0.136, females: p=0.001, 100 kHz - males: p=0.039, females: p<0.0001, 200 kHz - males: p=0.047, females: p<0.0001) Z200/Z5 index also showed lower value in athletes than in control group (p=0.016 for males, p<0.0001 for females). Conclusion: Lower values of impedance and Z200/Z5 index indicates a better nutrition status and general health condition of athletes than in control group.

  11. Complex impedance analyses and magnetoelectric effect in ferrite ferroelectric composite ceramics

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Patankar, K. K.; Kanade, S. A.; Padalkar, D. S.; Chougule, B. K.

    2007-02-01

    Magnetoelectric (ME) composites yBa0.8Pb0.2TiO3 (1-y)CuFe2O4 are prepared by ceramic method. The component phases are prepared from two different routes, viz. CuFe2O4 (ferrite phase) is prepared by oxalate precursor route and Ba0.8Pb0.2TiO3 (ferroelectric phase) by solid-state reaction route. No intermediate phases are observed in the composites containing these ferrite and ferroelectric phases. ME conversion factor (measure of ME effect) is found to be enhanced compared to those reported in the composites, in which the component phases were prepared by only one route, i.e. solid-state reaction route. The results on ME conversion are well accounted by measuring the complex impedance and analyzing their Nyquist plots.

  12. Nanostructured gold and platinum electrodes on silicon structures for biosensing

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ogurtsov, V. I.; Sheehan, M. M.

    2005-01-01

    Gold and platinum metal electrodes on Si/SiO2 having undergone anisotropic potassium hydroxide (KOH) etch treatment are considered. This treatment etches at different rates and directions in the material resulting in creation of numerous pyramid shaped holes in the silicon substrate. This surface is used to make metal electrodes with increased electrode efficiency. The electrodes can serve as the sensors or as the sensor substrates (for surface polymer modification) and because both gold and platinum are inert they have applications for food safety biosensing. Wine, an economically significant food product, was chosen as a matrix, and impedance spectroscopy (EIS) was selected as a method of investigation of electrode behaviour. Based on results of EIS, different complexity equivalent circuits were determined by applying fitting mean square root optimisation of sensor complex impedance measurements.

  13. Monitoring of bacteria growth using a wireless, remote query resonant-circuit sensor: application to environmental sensing

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Ong, K. G.; Wang, J.; Singh, R. S.; Bachas, L. G.; Grimes, C. A.; Daunert, S. (Principal Investigator)

    2001-01-01

    A new technique is presented for in-vivo remote query measurement of the complex permittivity spectra of a biological culture solution. A sensor comprised of a printed inductor-capacitor resonant-circuit is placed within the culture solution of interest, with the impedance spectrum of the sensor measured using a remotely located loop antenna; the complex permittivity spectra of the culture is calculated from the measured impedance spectrum. The remote query nature of the sensor platform enables, for example, the in-vivo real-time monitoring of bacteria or yeast growth from within sealed opaque containers. The wireless monitoring technique does not require a specific alignment between sensor and antenna. Results are presented for studies conducted on laboratory strains of Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli JM109, Pseudomonas putida and Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

  14. Method of estimating pulse response using an impedance spectrum

    DOEpatents

    Morrison, John L; Morrison, William H; Christophersen, Jon P; Motloch, Chester G

    2014-10-21

    Electrochemical Impedance Spectrum data are used to predict pulse performance of an energy storage device. The impedance spectrum may be obtained in-situ. A simulation waveform includes a pulse wave with a period greater than or equal to the lowest frequency used in the impedance measurement. Fourier series coefficients of the pulse train can be obtained. The number of harmonic constituents in the Fourier series are selected so as to appropriately resolve the response, but the maximum frequency should be less than or equal to the highest frequency used in the impedance measurement. Using a current pulse as an example, the Fourier coefficients of the pulse are multiplied by the impedance spectrum at corresponding frequencies to obtain Fourier coefficients of the voltage response to the desired pulse. The Fourier coefficients of the response are then summed and reassembled to obtain the overall time domain estimate of the voltage using the Fourier series analysis.

  15. Dielectric relaxation study of Pb(Yb0.5Ta0.5)O3 near ferroelectric phase transition

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Praharaj, S.; Biswas, P.; Rout, D.

    2018-05-01

    The dielectric relaxation study of Pb(Yb0.5Ta0.5)O3 was investigated by dielectric and impedance measurements. A weak relaxor behavior was observed in the specimen near to the antiferroelectric to ferroelectric phase transition. The frequency dependence of Tm analysis confirms the existence of polar nano regions and the interaction between them as well. The depressed semicircles in the impedance plot suggest poly dispersive (non Debye type) nature of the dielectric phenomena in the sample. The dielectric relaxation was further investigated through the analysis of frequency dependence imaginary part of impedance and modulus data.

  16. Wavelet analysis of the impedance cardiogram waveforms

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Podtaev, S.; Stepanov, R.; Dumler, A.; Chugainov, S.; Tziberkin, K.

    2012-12-01

    Impedance cardiography has been used for diagnosing atrial and ventricular dysfunctions, valve disorders, aortic stenosis, and vascular diseases. Almost all the applications of impedance cardiography require determination of some of the characteristic points of the ICG waveform. The ICG waveform has a set of characteristic points known as A, B, E ((dZ/dt)max) X, Y, O and Z. These points are related to distinct physiological events in the cardiac cycle. Objective of this work is an approbation of a new method of processing and interpretation of the impedance cardiogram waveforms using wavelet analysis. A method of computer thoracic tetrapolar polyrheocardiography is used for hemodynamic registrations. Use of original wavelet differentiation algorithm allows combining filtration and calculation of the derivatives of rheocardiogram. The proposed approach can be used in clinical practice for early diagnostics of cardiovascular system remodelling in the course of different pathologies.

  17. Antibody biosensors for spoilage yeast detection based on impedance spectroscopy.

    PubMed

    Tubía, I; Paredes, J; Pérez-Lorenzo, E; Arana, S

    2018-04-15

    Brettanomyces is a yeast species responsible for wine and cider spoilage, producing volatile phenols that result in off-odors and loss of fruity sensorial qualities. Current commercial detection methods for these spoilage species are liable to frequent false positives, long culture times and fungal contamination. In this work, an interdigitated (IDE) biosensor was created to detect Brettanomyces using immunological reactions and impedance spectroscopy analysis. To promote efficient antibody immobilization on the electrodes' surface and to decrease non-specific adsorption, a Self-Assembled Monolayer (SAM) was developed. An impedance spectroscopy analysis, over four yeast strains, confirmed our device's increased efficacy. Compared to label-free sensors, antibody biosensors showed a higher relative impedance. The results also suggested that these biosensors could be a promising method to monitor some spoilage yeasts, offering an efficient alternative to the laborious and expensive traditional methods. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  18. Electromagnetic Particle-In-Cell simulation on the impedance of a dipole antenna surrounded by an ion sheath

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Miyake, Y.; Usui, H.; Kojima, H.; Omura, Y.; Matsumoto, H.

    2008-06-01

    We have newly developed a numerical tool for the analysis of antenna impedance in plasma environment by making use of electromagnetic Particle-In-Cell (PIC) plasma simulations. To validate the developed tool, we first examined the antenna impedance in a homogeneous kinetic plasma and confirmed that the obtained results basically agree with the conventional theories. We next applied the tool to examine an ion-sheathed dipole antenna. The results confirmed that the inclusion of the ion-sheath effects reduces the capacitance below the electron plasma frequency. The results also revealed that the signature of impedance resonance observed at the plasma frequency is modified by the presence of the sheath. Since the sheath dynamics can be solved by the PIC scheme throughout the antenna analysis in a self-consistent manner, the developed tool has feasibility to perform more practical and complicated antenna analyses that will be necessary in real space missions.

  19. Body Composition Comparison: Bioelectric Impedance Analysis with Dual-Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry in Adult Athletes

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Company, Joe; Ball, Stephen

    2010-01-01

    The primary purpose of this study was to investigate the accuracy of the DF50 (ImpediMed Ltd, Eight Mile Plains, Queensland, Australia) bioelectrical impedance analysis device using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry as the criterion in two groups: endurance athletes and power athletes. The secondary purpose was to develop accurate body fat…

  20. Exploring Factors that Influence Informal Caregiving in Medication Management for Home Hospice Patients

    PubMed Central

    Berman, Rebecca; Halpern, Leslie; Pickard, A. Simon; Schrauf, Robert; Witt, Whitney

    2010-01-01

    Abstract Objective To explore factors that influence how informal caregivers manage medications as part of caring for hospice patients. Methods : Semistructured, open-ended interviews were conducted with 23 informal caregivers and 22 hospice providers from 4 hospice programs in the Chicago metropolitan areas. Qualitative analysis was conducted consistent with the grounded theory approach. Results : In general, informal caregivers and hospice providers identified similar key factors that facilitated or impeded caregivers' process in managing medications. Caregivers' life experience and self-confidence were considered assets that facilitated medication management. Limitations impeding the process included caregivers' negative emotional states, cognitive and physical impairments, low literacy, other competing responsibilities, as well as patients' negative emotional states and complex medication needs. Furthermore, the social context of medication management emerged as a salient theme: caregivers' good interpersonal relations with patients facilitated medication management, whereas poor communication/relations among caregivers within a support network impeded the process. While both study groups discussed the positive attributes of good caregiver–patient relations and support from multiple caregivers, hospice providers were cautious about the potential adverse influence of close relations with patients on caregivers' decision making about medications and discussed poor communication/relations among informal and privately hired caregivers that often resulted from family conflicts and/or a lack of long-standing leadership. Conclusion Our findings suggest additional intervention points, beyond knowledge and skill building, that could be addressed to support caregivers in executing medication responsibilities at home for hospice patients. PMID:20836633

  1. Smartphone-Based Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis Devices for Daily Obesity Management

    PubMed Central

    Choi, Ahyoung; Kim, Justin Younghyun; Jo, Seongwook; Jee, Jae Hwan; Heymsfield, Steven B.; Bhagat, Yusuf A.; Kim, Insoo; Cho, Jaegeol

    2015-01-01

    Current bioelectric impedance analysis (BIA) systems are often large, cumbersome devices which require strict electrode placement on the user, thus inhibiting mobile capabilities. In this work, we developed a handheld BIA device that measures impedance from multiple frequencies (5 kHz~200 kHz) with four contact electrodes and evaluated the BIA device against standard body composition analysis systems: a dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) system (GE Lunar Prodigy, GE Healthcare, Buckinghamshire, UK) and a whole-body BIA system (InBody S10, InBody, Co. Ltd, Seoul, Korea). In the study, 568 healthy participants, varying widely in body mass index, age, and gender, were recruited at two research centers: the Samsung Medical Center (SMC) in South Korea and the Pennington Biomedical Research Center (PBRC) in the United States. From the measured impedance data, we analyzed individual body fat and skeletal muscle mass by applying linear regression analysis against target reference data. Results indicated strong correlations of impedance measurements between the prototype pathways and corresponding InBody S10 electrical pathways (R = 0.93, p < 0.0001). Additionally, body fat estimates from DXA did not yield significant differences (p > 0.728 (paired t-test), DXA mean body fat 29.45 ± 10.77 kg, estimated body fat 29.52 ± 12.53 kg). Thus, this portable BIA system shows a promising ability to estimate an individual’s body composition that is comparable to large stationary BIA systems. PMID:26364636

  2. A new lithium-ion battery internal temperature on-line estimate method based on electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurement

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zhu, J. G.; Sun, Z. C.; Wei, X. Z.; Dai, H. F.

    2015-01-01

    The power battery thermal management problem in EV (electric vehicle) and HEV (hybrid electric vehicle) has been widely discussed, and EIS (electrochemical impedance spectroscopy) is an effective experimental method to test and estimate the status of the battery. Firstly, an electrochemical-based impedance matrix analysis for lithium-ion battery is developed to describe the impedance response of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Then a method, based on electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurement, has been proposed to estimate the internal temperature of power lithium-ion battery by analyzing the phase shift and magnitude of impedance at different ambient temperatures. Respectively, the SoC (state of charge) and temperature have different effects on the impedance characteristics of battery at various frequency ranges in the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy experimental study. Also the impedance spectrum affected by SoH (state of health) is discussed in the paper preliminary. Therefore, the excitation frequency selected to estimate the inner temperature is in the frequency range which is significantly influenced by temperature without the SoC and SoH. The intrinsic relationship between the phase shift and temperature is established under the chosen excitation frequency. And the magnitude of impedance related to temperature is studied in the paper. In practical applications, through obtaining the phase shift and magnitude of impedance, the inner temperature estimation could be achieved. Then the verification experiments are conduced to validate the estimate method. Finally, an estimate strategy and an on-line estimation system implementation scheme utilizing battery management system are presented to describe the engineering value.

  3. Baseline impedance measured during high-resolution esophageal impedance manometry reliably discriminates GERD patients.

    PubMed

    Ravi, K; Geno, D M; Vela, M F; Crowell, M D; Katzka, D A

    2017-05-01

    Baseline impedance measured with ambulatory impedance pH monitoring (MII-pH) and a mucosal impedance catheter detects gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). However, these tools are limited by cost or patient tolerance. We investigated whether baseline impedance measured during high-resolution impedance manometry (HRIM) distinguishes GERD patients from controls. Consecutive patients with clinical HRIM and MII-pH testing were identified. Gastroesophageal reflux disease was defined by esophageal pH <4 for ≥5% of both the supine and total study time, whereas controls had an esophageal pH <4 for ≤3% of the study performed off PPI. Baseline impedance was measured over 15 seconds during the landmark period of HRIM and over three 10 minute intervals during the overnight period of MII-pH. Among 29 GERD patients and 26 controls, GERD patients had a mean esophageal acid exposure time of 22.7% compared to 1.2% in controls (P<.0001). Mean baseline impedance during HRIM was lower in GERD (1061 Ω) than controls (2814 Ω) (P<.0001). Baseline mucosal impedance measured during HRIM and MII-pH correlated (r=0.59, P<.0001). High-resolution esophageal manometry baseline impedance had high diagnostic accuracy for GERD, with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.931 on receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis. A HRIM baseline impedance threshold of 1582 Ω had a sensitivity of 86.2% and specificity of 88.5% for GERD, with a positive predictive value of 89.3% and negative predictive value of 85.2%. Baseline impedance measured during HRIM can reliably discriminate GERD patients with at least moderate esophageal acid exposure from controls. This diagnostic tool may represent an accurate, cost-effective, and less invasive test for GERD. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

  4. Intracardiac impedance response during acute AF internal cardioversion using novel rectilinear and capacitor-discharge waveforms.

    PubMed

    Rababah, A S; Walsh, S J; Manoharan, G; Walsh, P R; Escalona, O J

    2016-07-01

    Intracardiac impedance (ICI) is a major determinant of success during internal cardioversion of atrial fibrillation (AF). However, there have been few studies that have examined the dynamic behaviour of atrial impedance during internal cardioversion in relation to clinical outcome. In this study, voltage and current waveforms captured during internal cardioversion of acute AF in ovine models using novel radiofrequency (RF) generated low-tilt rectilinear and conventional capacitor-discharge based shock waveforms were retrospectively analysed using a digital signal processing algorithm to investigate the dynamic behaviour of atrial impedance during cardioversion. The algorithm was specifically designed to facilitate the simultaneous analysis of multiple impedance parameters, including: mean intracardiac impedance (Z M), intracardiac impedance variance (ICIV) and impedance amplitude spectrum area (IAMSA) for each cardioversion event. A significant reduction in ICI was observed when comparing two successive shocks of increasing energy where cardioversion outcome was successful. In addition, ICIV and IAMSA variables were found to inversely correlate to the magnitude of energy delivered; with a stronger correlation found to the former parameter. In conclusion, ICIV and IAMSA have been evidenced as two key dynamic intracardiac impedance variables that may prove useful in better understanding of the cardioversion process and that could potentially act as prognostic markers with respect to clinical outcome.

  5. Cable Overheating Risk Warning Method Based on Impedance Parameter Estimation in Distribution Network

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Yu, Zhang; Xiaohui, Song; Jianfang, Li; Fei, Gao

    2017-05-01

    Cable overheating will lead to the cable insulation level reducing, speed up the cable insulation aging, even easy to cause short circuit faults. Cable overheating risk identification and warning is nessesary for distribution network operators. Cable overheating risk warning method based on impedance parameter estimation is proposed in the paper to improve the safty and reliability operation of distribution network. Firstly, cable impedance estimation model is established by using least square method based on the data from distribiton SCADA system to improve the impedance parameter estimation accuracy. Secondly, calculate the threshold value of cable impedance based on the historical data and the forecast value of cable impedance based on the forecasting data in future from distribiton SCADA system. Thirdly, establish risks warning rules library of cable overheating, calculate the cable impedance forecast value and analysis the change rate of impedance, and then warn the overheating risk of cable line based on the overheating risk warning rules library according to the variation relationship between impedance and line temperature rise. Overheating risk warning method is simulated in the paper. The simulation results shows that the method can identify the imedance and forecast the temperature rise of cable line in distribution network accurately. The result of overheating risk warning can provide decision basis for operation maintenance and repair.

  6. Comparison of different coil positions for ventilation monitoring with contact-less magnetic impedance measurements

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Cordes, A.; Pollig, D.; Leonhardt, S.

    2010-04-01

    For monitoring the health status of individuals, proper monitoring of ventilation is desirable. Therefore, a continuous measurement technique is an advantage for many patients since it allows personal home care scenarios. As an example, monitoring of elderly people at home could enable them to live in their familiar environment on their own with the safety of a continuous monitoring. Therefore, a measurement technique without the restriction of mobility is required. Since it is possible to monitor ventilation with magnetic impedance measurements without conductive contact, this technique is well suited for the mentioned scenario. Integrated in a chair, a person's health state could be monitored in many situations, e.g. during meals, while watching TV or reading a book. In this paper, we compare different positions of coil arrays for a magnetic impedance measurement system integrated in a chair in order to monitor ventilation continuously. For limiting the costs and technical complexity of the magnetic impedance measurement system, we have a focus on coil configurations with one RF channel. To limit the needed space and thickness of the array in the backrest, planar gradiometer coil setups are investigated. All measurements will be performed with a new developed portable magnetic impedance measurement system and a standard office chair.

  7. Efficient Simultaneous Reconstruction of Time-Varying Images and Electrode Contact Impedances in Electrical Impedance Tomography.

    PubMed

    Boverman, Gregory; Isaacson, David; Newell, Jonathan C; Saulnier, Gary J; Kao, Tzu-Jen; Amm, Bruce C; Wang, Xin; Davenport, David M; Chong, David H; Sahni, Rakesh; Ashe, Jeffrey M

    2017-04-01

    In electrical impedance tomography (EIT), we apply patterns of currents on a set of electrodes at the external boundary of an object, measure the resulting potentials at the electrodes, and, given the aggregate dataset, reconstruct the complex conductivity and permittivity within the object. It is possible to maximize sensitivity to internal conductivity changes by simultaneously applying currents and measuring potentials on all electrodes but this approach also maximizes sensitivity to changes in impedance at the interface. We have, therefore, developed algorithms to assess contact impedance changes at the interface as well as to efficiently and simultaneously reconstruct internal conductivity/permittivity changes within the body. We use simple linear algebraic manipulations, the generalized singular value decomposition, and a dual-mesh finite-element-based framework to reconstruct images in real time. We are also able to efficiently compute the linearized reconstruction for a wide range of regularization parameters and to compute both the generalized cross-validation parameter as well as the L-curve, objective approaches to determining the optimal regularization parameter, in a similarly efficient manner. Results are shown using data from a normal subject and from a clinical intensive care unit patient, both acquired with the GE GENESIS prototype EIT system, demonstrating significantly reduced boundary artifacts due to electrode drift and motion artifact.

  8. ELECTRIC IMPEDANCE OF NITELLA DURING ACTIVITY

    PubMed Central

    Cole, Kenneth S.; Curtis, Howard J.

    1938-01-01

    The changes in the alternating current impedance which occur during activity of cells of the fresh water plant Nitella have been measured with the current flow normal to the cell axis, at eight frequencies from 0.05 to 20 kilocycles per second, and with simultaneous records of the action potential under the impedance electrodes. At each frequency the resting cell was balanced in a Wheatstone bridge with a cathode ray oscillograph, and after electrical stimulation at one end of the cell, the changes in the complex impedance were determined from the bridge unbalance recorded by motion pictures of the oscillograph figure. An extension of the previous technique of interpretation of the transverse impedance shows that the normal membrane capacity of 0.9 µf./cm.2 decreases about 15 per cent without change of phase angle, while the membrane resistance decreases from 105 ohm cm.2 to about 500 ohm cm.2 during the passage of the excitation wave. This membrane change occurs during the latter part of the rising phase of the action potential, and it is shown that the membrane electromotive force remains unchanged until nearly the same time. The part of the action potential preceding these membrane changes is probably a passive fall of potential ahead of a partial short circuit. PMID:19873091

  9. Design and Evaluation of Modifications to the NASA Langley Flow Impedance Tube

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Jones, Michael G.; Watson, Willie R.; Parrott, Tony L.; Smith, Charles D.

    2004-01-01

    The need to minimize fan noise radiation from commercial aircraft engine nacelles continues to provide an impetus for developing new acoustic liner concepts. If the full value of such concepts is to be attained, an understanding of grazing flow effects is crucial. Because of this need for improved understanding of grazing flow effects, the NASA Langley Research Center Liner Physics Group has invested a large effort over the past decade into the development of a 2-D finite element method that characterizes wave propagation through a lined duct. The original test section in the Langley Grazing IncidenceTube was used to acquire data needed for implementation of this finite element method. This test section employed a stepper motor-driven axial-traversing bar, embedded in the wall opposite the test liner, to position a flush-mounted microphone at pre-selected locations. Complex acoustic pressure data acquired with this traversing microphone were used to educe the acoustic impedance of test liners using this 2-D finite element method and a local optimization technique. Results acquired in this facility have been extensively reported, and were compared with corresponding results from various U.S. aeroacoustics laboratories in the late 1990 s. Impedance data comparisons acquired from this multi-laboratory study suggested that it would be valuable to incorporate more realistic 3-D aeroacoustic effects into the impedance eduction methodology. This paper provides a description of modifications that have been implemented to facilitate studies of 3-D effects. The two key features of the modified test section are (1) the replacement of the traversing bar and its flush-mounted microphone with an array of 95 fixed-location microphones that are flush-mounted in all four walls of the duct, and (2) the inclusion of a suction device to modify the boundary layer upstream of the lined portion of the duct. The initial results achieved with the modified test section are provided in this report, and a comparison of these results with those achieved using the original test section is used to demonstrate that the data acquisition and analysis with the new test section can be confidently used for impedance eduction.

  10. Preparation and characterization of MWCNT nanofiller incorporated polymer composite for lithium battery applications

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Pradeepa, P.; Raj, S. Edwin; Selvakumar, K.

    Poly (ethyl methacrylate) based polymer electrolyte films were prepared by solution casting technique incorporating multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) as filler and characterized using XRD and Ac impedance analysis. The electrical conductivity is increased with increasing filler concentration (upto 6wt %), which is attributed to the formation of charge transfer complexes. The maximum ionic conductivity value is found to be 1.171×10{sup −3} Scm{sup −1} at 303K for PEMA (19wt %) -LiClO{sub 4} (8wt %) -MWCNT (6wt %) -PC (67wt %) electrolyte system. The temperature dependent ionic conductivity plot seems to obey Vogel -Tamman-Fulcher relation.

  11. Theoretical interpretation of Warburg's impedance in unsupported electrolytic cells.

    PubMed

    Barbero, G

    2017-12-13

    We discuss the origin of Warburg's impedance in unsupported electrolytic cells containing only one group of positive and one group of negative ions. Our analysis is based on the Poisson-Nernst-Planck model, where the generation-recombination phenomenon is neglected. We show that to observe Warburg-like impedance the diffusion coefficient of the positive ions has to differ from that of the negative ones, and furthermore the electrodes have to be not blocking. We assume that the non-blocking properties of the electrodes can be described by means of an Ohmic model, where the charge exchange between the cell and the external circuit is described by means of an electrode conductivity. For simplicity we consider a symmetric cell. However, our analysis can be easily generalized to more complicated situations, where the cell is not symmetric and the charge exchange is described by the Chang-Jaffe model, or by a linearized version of the Butler-Volmer equation. Our analysis allows justification of the expression for Warburg's impedance proposed previously by several groups, based on wrong assumptions.

  12. Equivalent complex conductivities representing the effects of T-tubules and folded surface membranes on the electrical admittance and impedance of skeletal muscles measured by external-electrode method

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sekine, Katsuhisa

    2017-12-01

    In order to represent the effects of T-tubules and folded surface membranes on the electrical admittance and impedance of skeletal muscles measured by the external-electrode method, analytical relations for the equivalent complex conductivities of hypothetical smooth surface membranes were derived. In the relations, the effects of each tubule were represented by the admittance of a straight cable. The effects of the folding of a surface membrane were represented by the increased area of surface membranes. The equivalent complex conductivities were represented as summation of these effects, and the effects of the T-tubules were different between the transversal and longitudinal directions. The validity of the equivalent complex conductivities was supported by the results of finite-difference method (FDM) calculations made using three-dimensional models in which T-tubules and folded surface membranes were represented explicitly. FDM calculations using the equivalent complex conductivities suggested that the electrically inhomogeneous structure due to the existence of muscle cells with T-tubules was sufficient for explaining the experimental results previously obtained using the external-electrode method. Results of FDM calculations in which the structural changes caused by muscle contractions were taken into account were consistent with the reported experimental results.

  13. Equivalent circuit for the characterization of the resonance mode in piezoelectric systems

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Fernández-Afonso, Y.; García-Zaldívar, O.; Calderón-Piñar, F.

    2015-12-01

    The impedance properties in polarized piezoelectric can be described by electric equivalent circuits. The classic circuit used in the literature to describe real systems is formed by one resistor (R), one inductance (L) and one capacitance C connected in series and one capacity (C0) connected in parallel with the formers. Nevertheless, the equation that describe the resonance and anti-resonance frequencies depends on a complex manner of R, L, C and C0. In this work is proposed a simpler model formed by one inductance (L) and one capacity (C) in series; one capacity (C0) in parallel; one resistor (RP) in parallel and one resistor (RS) in series with other components. Unlike the traditional circuit, the equivalent circuit elements in the proposed model can be simply determined by knowing the experimental values of the resonance frequency fr, anti-resonance frequency fa, impedance module at resonance frequency |Zr|, impedance module at anti-resonance frequency |Za| and low frequency capacitance C0, without fitting the impedance experimental data to the obtained equation.

  14. Large improvement of the electrical impedance of imaging and high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) phased arrays using multilayer piezoelectric ceramics coupled in lateral mode.

    PubMed

    Song, Junho; Lucht, Benjamin; Hynynen, Kullervo

    2012-07-01

    With a change in phased-array configuration from one dimension to two, the electrical impedance of the array elements is substantially increased because of their decreased width (w)-to-thickness (t) ratio. The most common way to compensate for this impedance increase is to employ electrical matching circuits at a high cost of fabrication complexity and effort. In this paper, we introduce a multilayer lateral-mode coupling method for phased-array construction. The direct comparison showed that the electrical impedance of a single-layer transducer driven in thickness mode is 1/(n²(1/(w/t))²) times that of an n-layer lateral mode transducer. A large reduction of the electrical impedance showed the impact and benefit of the lateral-mode coupling method. A one-dimensional linear 32-element 770-kHz imaging array and a 42-element 1.45-MHz high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) phased array were fabricated. The averaged electrical impedances of each element were measured to be 58 Ω at the maximum phase angle of -1.2° for the imaging array and 105 Ω at 0° for the HIFU array. The imaging array had a center frequency of 770 kHz with an averaged -6-dB bandwidth of approximately 52%. For the HIFU array, the averaged maximum surface acoustic intensity was measured to be 32.8 W/cm² before failure.

  15. Quantitative geophysical investigations at the Diamond M field, Scurry County, Texas

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Davogustto Cataldo, Oswaldo Ernesto

    The Diamond M field over the Horseshoe Atoll reservoir of west Texas has produced oil since 1942. Even with some 210 well penetrations, complex reservoir compartmentalization has justified an ongoing drilling program with three wells drilled within the last three years. Accurate reservoir characterization requires accurate description of the geometry, geological facies, and petrophysical property distribution ranging from core, through log to the seismic scale. The operator has conducted a careful logging and coring process including dipole sonic logs in addition to acquiring a modern 3D vertical phone - vertical vibrator "P-wave" seismic data volume and an equivalent size 2-component by 2-componet "S-wave" seismic data volume. I analyze these data at different scales, integrating them into a whole. I begin with core analysis of the petrophysical properties of the Horseshoe Atoll reservoir. Measuring porosity, permeability, NMR T2 relaxation and velocities (Vp and Vs) as a function of pressure and find that porosity measurements are consistent when measured with different techniques. When upscaled, these measurements are in excellent agreement with properties measured at the log scale. Together, these measurements provide a lithology-porosity template against which I correlate my seismic P- and S-impedance measurements. Careful examination of P- and S-impedances as well as density from prestack inversion of the P-wave survey of the original time migrated gathers showed lower vertical resolution for S-impedance and density. These latter two parameters are controlled by the far-offset data, which suffers from migration stretch. I address this shortcoming by applying a recently developed non-stretch NMO technique which not only improved the bandwidth of the data but also resulted in inversions that better match the S-impedance and density well log data. The operator hypothesized that 2C by 2C S-wave data would better delineate lithology than conventional P-wave seismic data. Although introduced in the mid-1980s, 2C by 2C data are rarely acquired, with most surveys showing less vertical resolution than conventional (and prior to slip-sweep technology more economically acquired) P-wave data. Initial processing by the service company showed a comparable, but lower frequency, image for the "transverse" component, and poor images for the "radial" component. Although the dipole sonic logs did not indicate the presence of significant anisotropy, shear wave splitting is readily observed on the surface seismic stacks. I therefore developed a prestack Alford rotation algorithm that minimizes the cross-talk between components, resulting vertical resolution comparable to the P-wave data, and independent measure of lithology, and also a direct measure of the direction of the principal axes of anisotropy. The direction of azimuthal anisotropy is aligned N45E consistent with the regional maximum horizontal stress axis obtained from the world stress map database. On average, the Cisco Formation appears 10% thicker on the slow shear (S2) volume than on the fast shear (S1 ) volume and between 70% and 100% thicker on the P-wave volume. Cross-plotting cumulative production against the various seismic attributes, I find a strong negative correlation to S-impedance and P-impedance. Zones of low S-impedance and low P-impedance correlate to better producing wells. More quantitative correlation will require the analysis of the role fractures versus porosity contribute to production.

  16. Sensitivity Analysis of an ENteric Immunity SImulator (ENISI)-Based Model of Immune Responses to Helicobacter pylori Infection

    PubMed Central

    Alam, Maksudul; Deng, Xinwei; Philipson, Casandra; Bassaganya-Riera, Josep; Bisset, Keith; Carbo, Adria; Eubank, Stephen; Hontecillas, Raquel; Hoops, Stefan; Mei, Yongguo; Abedi, Vida; Marathe, Madhav

    2015-01-01

    Agent-based models (ABM) are widely used to study immune systems, providing a procedural and interactive view of the underlying system. The interaction of components and the behavior of individual objects is described procedurally as a function of the internal states and the local interactions, which are often stochastic in nature. Such models typically have complex structures and consist of a large number of modeling parameters. Determining the key modeling parameters which govern the outcomes of the system is very challenging. Sensitivity analysis plays a vital role in quantifying the impact of modeling parameters in massively interacting systems, including large complex ABM. The high computational cost of executing simulations impedes running experiments with exhaustive parameter settings. Existing techniques of analyzing such a complex system typically focus on local sensitivity analysis, i.e. one parameter at a time, or a close “neighborhood” of particular parameter settings. However, such methods are not adequate to measure the uncertainty and sensitivity of parameters accurately because they overlook the global impacts of parameters on the system. In this article, we develop novel experimental design and analysis techniques to perform both global and local sensitivity analysis of large-scale ABMs. The proposed method can efficiently identify the most significant parameters and quantify their contributions to outcomes of the system. We demonstrate the proposed methodology for ENteric Immune SImulator (ENISI), a large-scale ABM environment, using a computational model of immune responses to Helicobacter pylori colonization of the gastric mucosa. PMID:26327290

  17. Sensitivity Analysis of an ENteric Immunity SImulator (ENISI)-Based Model of Immune Responses to Helicobacter pylori Infection.

    PubMed

    Alam, Maksudul; Deng, Xinwei; Philipson, Casandra; Bassaganya-Riera, Josep; Bisset, Keith; Carbo, Adria; Eubank, Stephen; Hontecillas, Raquel; Hoops, Stefan; Mei, Yongguo; Abedi, Vida; Marathe, Madhav

    2015-01-01

    Agent-based models (ABM) are widely used to study immune systems, providing a procedural and interactive view of the underlying system. The interaction of components and the behavior of individual objects is described procedurally as a function of the internal states and the local interactions, which are often stochastic in nature. Such models typically have complex structures and consist of a large number of modeling parameters. Determining the key modeling parameters which govern the outcomes of the system is very challenging. Sensitivity analysis plays a vital role in quantifying the impact of modeling parameters in massively interacting systems, including large complex ABM. The high computational cost of executing simulations impedes running experiments with exhaustive parameter settings. Existing techniques of analyzing such a complex system typically focus on local sensitivity analysis, i.e. one parameter at a time, or a close "neighborhood" of particular parameter settings. However, such methods are not adequate to measure the uncertainty and sensitivity of parameters accurately because they overlook the global impacts of parameters on the system. In this article, we develop novel experimental design and analysis techniques to perform both global and local sensitivity analysis of large-scale ABMs. The proposed method can efficiently identify the most significant parameters and quantify their contributions to outcomes of the system. We demonstrate the proposed methodology for ENteric Immune SImulator (ENISI), a large-scale ABM environment, using a computational model of immune responses to Helicobacter pylori colonization of the gastric mucosa.

  18. Analysis of the longitudinal space charge impedance of a round uniform beam inside parallel plates and rectangular chambers

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Wang, L.; Li, Y.

    2015-02-03

    This paper analyzes the longitudinal space charge impedances of a round uniform beam inside a rectangular and parallel plate chambers using the image charge method. This analysis is valid for arbitrary wavelengths, and the calculations converge rapidly. The research shows that only a few of the image beams are needed to obtain a relative error less than 0.1%. The beam offset effect is also discussed in the analysis.

  19. Simple One-Pot Syntheses and Characterizations of Free Fluoride- and Bifluoride-Containing Polymers Soluble in Non-Aqueous Solvents

    PubMed Central

    Steinle, Dominik; Friedrich, Laura; Bevilacqua, Nico; von Hauff, Elizabeth; Gschwind, Fabienne

    2016-01-01

    One of the problems that arise with bifluoride- or fluoride-containing compounds is their poor solubility in non-aqueous solvents. We report herein a facile one-pot synthesis and the chemical analysis of fluoride/bifluoride-containing polymers, which are soluble in MeCN. Different polymers, such as Polyvinylacetate or Polyethylene imine and saccharides, such as maltodextrin, were complexed with ammonium (bi)fluoride using hydrogen bonds to form the desired (bi)fluoride-containing compounds. The newly formed hydrogen bonding (bi)fluoride-doped polymer matrices were analyzed using infrared and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopies, and X-ray diffraction. The promising materials also underwent impedance spectroscopy, conductivity measurements and preliminary tests as electrolytes for room temperature fluoride ion batteries along with an analysis of their performance. PMID:28774092

  20. The Effect of an Acute After-School Exercise Bout on Percentage of Body Fat Using Leg-to-Leg Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis in Children

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Andreacci, Joseph L.; Dixon, Curt B.; Rompolski, Krista; VanGorden, Kelly M.

    2008-01-01

    Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) is a fast, easy to administer, and relatively inexpensive method of evaluating body composition. Due to the ease of operation, interest in using BIA to estimate percentage of body fat (%BF) has grown, especially in settings where body composition assessments are often performed without the benefit of…

  1. Verification of Space Station Secondary Power System Stability Using Design of Experiment

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Karimi, Kamiar J.; Booker, Andrew J.; Mong, Alvin C.; Manners, Bruce

    1998-01-01

    This paper describes analytical methods used in verification of large DC power systems with applications to the International Space Station (ISS). Large DC power systems contain many switching power converters with negative resistor characteristics. The ISS power system presents numerous challenges with respect to system stability such as complex sources and undefined loads. The Space Station program has developed impedance specifications for sources and loads. The overall approach to system stability consists of specific hardware requirements coupled with extensive system analysis and testing. Testing of large complex distributed power systems is not practical due to size and complexity of the system. Computer modeling has been extensively used to develop hardware specifications as well as to identify system configurations for lab testing. The statistical method of Design of Experiments (DoE) is used as an analysis tool for verification of these large systems. DOE reduces the number of computer runs which are necessary to analyze the performance of a complex power system consisting of hundreds of DC/DC converters. DoE also provides valuable information about the effect of changes in system parameters on the performance of the system. DoE provides information about various operating scenarios and identification of the ones with potential for instability. In this paper we will describe how we have used computer modeling to analyze a large DC power system. A brief description of DoE is given. Examples using applications of DoE to analysis and verification of the ISS power system are provided.

  2. Reducing Uncertainties in Hydrocarbon Prediction through Application of Elastic Domain

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Shamsuddin, S. Z.; Hermana, M.; Ghosh, D. P.; Salim, A. M. A.

    2017-10-01

    The application of lithology and fluid indicators has helped the geophysicists to discriminate reservoirs to non-reservoirs from a field. This analysis is conducted to select the most suitable lithology and fluid indicator for the Malaysian basins that could lead to better eliminate pitfalls of amplitude. This paper uses different rock physics analysis such as elastic impedance, Lambda-Mu-Rho, and SQp-SQs attribute. Litho-elastic impedance log is generated by correlating the gamma ray log with extended elastic impedance log. The same application is used for fluid-elastic impedance by correlation of EEI log with water saturation or resistivity. The work is done on several well logging data collected from different fields in Malay basin and its neighbouring basin. There's an excellent separation between hydrocarbon sand and background shale for Well-1 from different cross-plot analysis. Meanwhile, the Well-2 shows good separation in LMR plot. The similar method is done on the Well-3 shows fair separation of silty sand and gas sand using SQp-SQs attribute which can be correlated with well log. Based on the point distribution histogram plot, different lithology and fluid can be separated clearly. Simultaneous seismic inversion results in acoustic impedance, Vp/Vs, SQp, and SQs volumes. There are many attributes available in the industry used to separate the lithology and fluid, however some of the methods are not suitable for the application to the basins in Malaysia.

  3. Automated analysis of plethysmograms for functional studies of hemodynamics

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zatrudina, R. Sh.; Isupov, I. B.; Gribkov, V. Yu.

    2018-04-01

    The most promising method for the quantitative determination of cardiovascular tone indicators and of cerebral hemodynamics indicators is the method of impedance plethysmography. The accurate determination of these indicators requires the correct identification of the characteristic points in the thoracic impedance plethysmogram and the cranial impedance plethysmogram respectively. An algorithm for automatic analysis of these plethysmogram is presented. The algorithm is based on the hard temporal relationships between the phases of the cardiac cycle and the characteristic points of the plethysmogram. The proposed algorithm does not require estimation of initial data and selection of processing parameters. Use of the method on healthy subjects showed a very low detection error of characteristic points.

  4. Photoanode Thickness Optimization and Impedance Spectroscopic Analysis of Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells based on a Carbazole-Containing Ruthenium Dye

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Choi, Jongwan; Kim, Felix Sunjoo

    2018-03-01

    We studied the influence of photoanode thickness on the photovoltaic characteristics and impedance responses of the dye-sensitized solar cells based on a ruthenium dye containing a hexyloxyl-substituted carbazole unit (Ru-HCz). As the thickness of photoanode increases from 4.2 μm to 14.8 μm, the dye-loading amount and the efficiency increase. The device with thicker photoanode shows a decrease in the efficiency due to the higher probability of recombination of electron-hole pairs before charge extraction. We also analyzed the electron-transfer and recombination characteristics as a function of photoanode thickness through detailed electrochemical impedance spectroscopy analysis.

  5. Prediction and reduction of aircraft noise in outdoor environments

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Tong, Bao N.

    This dissertation investigates the noise due to an en-route aircraft cruising at high altitudes. It offers an improved understanding into the combined effects of atmospheric propagation, ground reflection, and source motion on the impact of en-route aircraft noise. A numerical model has been developed to compute pressure time-histories due to a uniformly moving source above a flat ground surface in the presence of a horizontally stratified atmosphere. For a moving source at high elevations, contributions from a direct and specularly reflected wave are sufficient in predicting the sound field close to the ground. In the absence of wind effects, the predicted sound field from a single overhead flight trajectory can be used to interpolate pressure time histories at all other receiver locations via a simplified ray model for the incoherent sound field. This approach provides an efficient method for generating pressure time histories in a three-dimensional space for noise impact studies. A variety of different noise propagation methods are adapted to a uniformly moving source to evaluate the accuracy and efficiency of their predictions. The techniques include: analytical methods, the Fast Field Program (FFP), and asymptotic analysis methods (e.g., ray tracing and more advanced formulations). Source motion effects are introduced via either a retarded time analysis or a Lorentz transform approach depending on the complexity of the problem. The noise spectrum from a single emission frequency, moving source has broadband characteristics. This is a consequence of the Doppler shift which continuously modifies the perceived frequency of the source as it moves relative to a stationary observer on the ground. Thus, the instantaneous wavefronts must be considered in both the frequency dependent ground impedance model and the atmospheric absorption model. It can be shown that the Doppler factor is invariant along each ray path. This gives rise to a path dependent atmospheric absorption mechanism due to the source's motion. To help mitigate the noise that propagates to the ground, multi-layered acoustic treatments can be applied to provide good performance over a wide range of frequencies. An accurate representation of material properties for each of the constituent layers is needed in the design of such treatments. The parameter of interest is the specific acoustic impedance, which can be obtained via inversion of acoustic transfer function measurements. However, several different impedance values can correspond to the same sound field predictions. The boundary loss factor F (associated with spherical wave reflection) is the source of this ambiguity. A method for identifying the family of solutions and selecting the physically meaningful branch is proposed to resolve this non-uniqueness issue. Accurate deduction of the acoustic impedance depends on precise measurements of the acoustic transfer function. However, measurement uncertainties exists in both the magnitude and the phase of the acoustic transfer function. The ASA/ANSI S1.18 standard impedance deduction method uses phase information, which can be unreliable in many outdoor environments. An improved technique which only relies on magnitude information is developed in this dissertation. A selection of optimal geometries become necessary to reduce the sensitivity of the deduced impedance to small variations in the measured data. A graphical approach is provided which offers greater insight into the optimization problem. A downhill simplex algorithm has been implemented to automate the impedance deduction procedure. Physical constraints are applied to limit the search region and to eliminate rogue solutions. Several case studies consisting of both indoor and outdoor acoustical measurements are presented to validate the proposed technique. The current analysis is limited to locally reacting materials where the acoustic impedance does not depend on the incidence angle of the reflected wave.

  6. Study of the longitudinal space charge compensation and longitudinal instability of the ferrite inductive inserts in the Los Alamos Proton Storage Ring

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Beltran, Chris

    Future high intensity synchrotrons will have a large space charge effect. It has been demonstrated in the Proton Storage Ring (PSR) at the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) that ferrite inductive inserts can be used to compensate for the longitudinal space charge effect. However, simply installing ferrite inductors in the PSR led to longitudinal instabilities that were not tolerable. It was proposed that heating the ferrite would change the material properties in such a way as to reduce the instability. This proposal was tested in the PSR, and found to be true. This dissertation investigates and describes the complex permeability of the ferrite at room temperature and at an elevated temperature. The derived complex permeability is then used to obtain an impedance at the two temperatures. The impedance is used to determine the amount of space charge compensation supplied by the inductors and predict the growth time and frequency range of the longitudinal instability. The impedance is verified by comparing the experimental growth time and frequency range of the longitudinal instability to theoretical and computer simulated growth times and frequency ranges of the longitudinal instability. Lastly, an approach to mitigating the longitudinal instability that does not involve heating the ferrite is explored.

  7. Design and fabrication of a 40-MHz annular array transducer

    PubMed Central

    Ketterling, Jeffrey A.; Lizzi, Frederic L.; Aristizábal, Orlando; Turnbull, Daniel H.

    2006-01-01

    This paper investigates the feasibility of fabricating a 5-ring, focused annular array transducer operating at 40 MHz. The active piezoelectric material of the transducer was a 9-μm thick polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) film. One side of the PVDF was metallized with gold and forms the ground plane of the transducer. The array pattern of the transducer and electrical traces to each annulus were formed on a copper-clad polyimide film. The PVDF and polyimide were bonded with a thin layer of epoxy, pressed into a spherically curved shape, and then back filled with epoxy. A 5-ring transducer with equal area elements and 100 μm kerfs between annuli was fabricated and tested. The transducer had a total aperture of 6 mm and a geometric focus of 12 mm. The pulse/echo response from a quartz plate located at the geometric focus, two-way insertion loss (IL), complex impedance, electrical cross-talk, and lateral beamwidth were all measured for each annulus. The complex impedance data from each element were used to perform electrical matching and the measurements were repeated. After impedance matching, fc ≈ 36 MHz and BWs ranged from 31 to 39%. The ILs for the matched annuli ranged from −28 to −38 dB. PMID:16060516

  8. Impedance spectroscopy with field-effect transistor arrays for the analysis of anti-cancer drug action on individual cells.

    PubMed

    Susloparova, A; Koppenhöfer, D; Vu, X T; Weil, M; Ingebrandt, S

    2013-02-15

    In this study, impedance spectroscopy measurements of silicon-based open-gate field-effect transistor (FET) devices were utilized to study the adhesion status of cancer cells at a single cell level. We developed a trans-impedance amplifier circuit for the FETs with a higher bandwidth compared to a previously described system. The new system was characterized with a fast lock-in amplifier, which enabled measuring of impedance spectra up to 50 MHz. We studied cellular activities, including cell adhesion and anti-cancer drug induced apoptosis of human embryonic kidney (HEK293) and human lung adenocarcinoma epithelial (H441) cells. A well-known chemotherapeutic drug, topotecan hydrochloride, was used to investigate the effect of this drug to tumor cells cultured on the FET devices. The presence of the drug resulted in a 20% change in the amplitude of the impedance spectra at 200 kHz as a result of the induced apoptosis process. Real-time impedance measurements were performed inside an incubator at a constant frequency. The experimental results can be interpreted with an equivalent electronic circuit to resolve the influence of the system parameters. The developed method could be applied for the analysis of the specificity and efficacy of novel anti-cancer drugs in cancer therapy research on a single cell level in parallelized measurements. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  9. A time-based potential step analysis of electrochemical impedance incorporating a constant phase element: a study of commercially pure titanium in phosphate buffered saline.

    PubMed

    Ehrensberger, Mark T; Gilbert, Jeremy L

    2010-05-01

    The measurement of electrochemical impedance is a valuable tool to assess the electrochemical environment that exists at the surface of metallic biomaterials. This article describes the development and validation of a new technique, potential step impedance analysis (PSIA), to assess the electrochemical impedance of materials whose interface with solution can be modeled as a simplified Randles circuit that is modified with a constant phase element. PSIA is based upon applying a step change in voltage to a working electrode and analyzing the subsequent current transient response in a combined time and frequency domain technique. The solution resistance, polarization resistance, and interfacial capacitance are found directly in the time domain. The experimental current transient is numerically transformed to the frequency domain to determine the constant phase exponent, alpha. This combined time and frequency approach was tested using current transients generated from computer simulations, from resistor-capacitor breadboard circuits, and from commercially pure titanium samples immersed in phosphate buffered saline and polarized at -800 mV or +1000 mV versus Ag/AgCl. It was shown that PSIA calculates equivalent admittance and impedance behavior over this range of potentials when compared to standard electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. This current transient approach characterizes the frequency response of the system without the need for expensive frequency response analyzers or software. Copyright 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  10. Location of coating defects and assessment of level of cathodic protection on underground pipelines using AC impedance, deterministic and non-deterministic models

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Castaneda-Lopez, Homero

    A methodology for detecting and locating defects or discontinuities on the outside covering of coated metal underground pipelines subjected to cathodic protection has been addressed. On the basis of wide range AC impedance signals for various frequencies applied to a steel-coated pipeline system and by measuring its corresponding transfer function under several laboratory simulation scenarios, a physical laboratory setup of an underground cathodic-protected, coated pipeline was built. This model included different variables and elements that exist under real conditions, such as soil resistivity, soil chemical composition, defect (holiday) location in the pipeline covering, defect area and geometry, and level of cathodic protection. The AC impedance data obtained under different working conditions were used to fit an electrical transmission line model. This model was then used as a tool to fit the impedance signal for different experimental conditions and to establish trends in the impedance behavior without the necessity of further experimental work. However, due to the chaotic nature of the transfer function response of this system under several conditions, it is believed that non-deterministic models based on pattern recognition algorithms are suitable for field condition analysis. A non-deterministic approach was used for experimental analysis by applying an artificial neural network (ANN) algorithm based on classification analysis capable of studying the pipeline system and differentiating the variables that can change impedance conditions. These variables include level of cathodic protection, location of discontinuities (holidays), and severity of corrosion. This work demonstrated a proof-of-concept for a well-known technique and a novel algorithm capable of classifying impedance data for experimental results to predict the exact location of the active holidays and defects on the buried pipelines. Laboratory findings from this procedure are promising, and efforts to develop it for field conditions should continue.

  11. A cell impedance measurement device for the cytotoxicity assay dependent on the velocity of supplied toxic fluid

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kang, Yoon-Tae; Kim, Min-Ji; Cho, Young-Ho

    2018-04-01

    We present a cell impedance measurement chip capable of characterizing the toxic response of cells depending on the velocity of the supplied toxic fluid. Previous impedance-based devices using a single open-top chamber have been limited to maintaining a constant supply velocity, and devices with a single closed-top chamber present difficulties in simultaneous cytotoxicity assay for varying levels of supply velocities. The present device, capable of generating constant and multiple levels of toxic fluid velocity simultaneously within a single stepwise microchannel, performs a cytotoxicity assay dependent on toxic fluid velocity, in order to find the effective velocity of toxic fluid to cells for maximizing the cytotoxic effect. We analyze the cellular toxic response of 5% ethanol media supplied to cancer cells within a toxic fluid velocity range of 0-8.3 mm s-1. We observe the velocity-dependent cell detachment rate, impedance, and death rate. We find that the cell detachment rate decreased suddenly to 2.4% at a velocity of 4.4 mm s-1, and that the change rates of cell resistance and cell capacitance showed steep decreases to 8% and 41%, respectively, at a velocity of 5.7 mm s-1. The cell death rate and impedance fell steeply to 32% at a velocity of 5.7 mm s-1. We conclude that: (1) the present device is useful in deciding on the toxic fluid velocity effective to cytotoxicity assay, since the cellular toxic response is dependent on the velocity of toxic fluid, and; (2) the cell impedance analysis facilitates a finer cellular response analysis, showing better correlation with the cell death rate, compared to conventional visual observation. The present device, capable of performing the combinational analysis of toxic fluid velocity and cell impedance, has potential for application to the fine cellular toxicity assay of drugs with proper toxic fluid velocity.

  12. Analysis of the O-wave in acute right ventricular apex impedance measurements with a standard pacing lead in animals.

    PubMed

    Järverud, K; Ollmar, S; Brodin, L A

    2002-09-01

    Modern pacemakers (implantable devices used for maintaining an appropriate heart rate in patients) can use an intracardiac ventricular impedance signal for physiological cardiac stimulation control. Intracardiac ventricular impedance from nine animal subjects is analysed and presented (seven sheep: 49.0 +/- 6.5 kg, sinus rhythm 100.3 +/- 16.5 beats min(-1), average impedance 629.8 +/- 72.6 ohms; and two dogs: 30 kg each, sinus rhythm 86.0 beats min(-1), 862.1 ohms and 134.0 beats min(-1), 1114.6 ohms, respectively). The averaged curve and standard deviation curve of the impedance in sinus rhythm were analysed in MATLAB to clarify and study consistent impedance shape over one heart cycle. In eight of nine (89%) animal subjects, a consistent impedance slope change (notch) was observed in the early stage of the cardiac filling phase. This result was reproduced in an additional subject with simultaneous echocardiographical measurements of mitral valve blood flow. The notch occured soon after rapid early filling (E-wave in mitral flow) but prior to ventricular filling caused by atrial contraction, indicating that the impedance notch was caused by rapid ventricular filling and that it might be a sensed feature of diagnostic value. The intracardiac impedance notch in the present study had similar features to the non-invasive transthoracic impedance O-wave reported by others, and it is shown here that an O-wave is found in intracardiac impedance signals, strongly suggesting that the non-invasive O-wave is caused by cardiac events.

  13. Wideband characterization of the complex wave number and characteristic impedance of sound absorbers.

    PubMed

    Salissou, Yacoubou; Panneton, Raymond

    2010-11-01

    Several methods for measuring the complex wave number and the characteristic impedance of sound absorbers have been proposed in the literature. These methods can be classified into single frequency and wideband methods. In this paper, the main existing methods are revisited and discussed. An alternative method which is not well known or discussed in the literature while exhibiting great potential is also discussed. This method is essentially an improvement of the wideband method described by Iwase et al., rewritten so that the setup is more ISO 10534-2 standard-compliant. Glass wool, melamine foam and acoustical/thermal insulator wool are used to compare the main existing wideband non-iterative methods with this alternative method. It is found that, in the middle and high frequency ranges the alternative method yields results that are comparable in accuracy to the classical two-cavity method and the four-microphone transfer-matrix method. However, in the low frequency range, the alternative method appears to be more accurate than the other methods, especially when measuring the complex wave number.

  14. Using impedance cardiography with postural change to stratify patients with hypertension.

    PubMed

    DeMarzo, Arthur P

    2011-06-01

    Early detection of cardiovascular disease in patients with hypertension could initiate appropriate treatment to control blood pressure and prevent the progression of cardiovascular disease. The goal of this study was to show how impedance cardiography waveform analysis with postural change can be used to detect subclinical cardiovascular disease in patients with high blood pressure. Patients with high blood pressure had impedance cardiography data obtained in two positions, standing upright and supine. In 50 adults, impedance cardiography indicated that all patients had abnormal data, with 44 (88%) having multiple abnormalities. Impedance cardiography showed 32 (64%) had ventricular dysfunction, 48 (96%) had vascular load abnormalities, 34 (68%) had hemodynamic abnormalities, 2 (4%) had hypovolemia, and 3 (6%) had hypervolemia. Hypertensive patients have diverse cardiovascular abnormalities that can be quantified by impedance cardiography. By stratifying patients with ventricular, vascular, and hemodynamic abnormalities, treatment could be customized based on the abnormal underlying mechanisms with the potential to rapidly control blood pressure, prevent progression of cardiovascular disease, and possibly reverse remodeling.

  15. Finite difference time domain implementation of surface impedance boundary conditions

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Beggs, John H.; Luebbers, Raymond J.; Yee, Kane S.; Kunz, Karl S.

    1991-01-01

    Surface impedance boundary conditions are employed to reduce the solution volume during the analysis of scattering from lossy dielectric objects. In the finite difference solution, they also can be utilized to avoid using small cells, made necessary by shorter wavelengths in conducting media throughout the solution volume. The standard approach is to approximate the surface impedance over a very small bandwidth by its value at the center frequency, and then use that result in the boundary condition. Here, two implementations of the surface impedance boundary condition are presented. One implementation is a constant surface impedance boundary condition and the other is a dispersive surface impedance boundary condition that is applicable over a very large frequency bandwidth and over a large range of conductivities. Frequency domain results are presented in one dimension for two conductivity values and are compared with exact results. Scattering width results from an infinite square cylinder are presented as a two dimensional demonstration. Extensions to three dimensions should be straightforward.

  16. Finite difference time domain implementation of surface impedance boundary conditions

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Beggs, John H.; Luebbers, Raymond J.; Yee, Kane S.; Kunz, Karl S.

    1991-01-01

    Surface impedance boundary conditions are employed to reduce the solution volume during the analysis of scattering from lossy dielectric objects. In a finite difference solution, they also can be utilized to avoid using small cells, made necessary by shorter wavelengths in conducting media throughout the solution volume. The standard approach is to approximate the surface impedance over a very small bandwidth by its value at the center frequency, and then use that result in the boundary condition. Two implementations of the surface impedance boundary condition are presented. One implementation is a constant surface impedance boundary condition and the other is a dispersive surface impedance boundary condition that is applicable over a very large frequency bandwidth and over a large range of conductivities. Frequency domain results are presented in one dimension for two conductivity values and are compared with exact results. Scattering width results from an infinite square cylinder are presented as a 2-D demonstration. Extensions to 3-D should be straightforward.

  17. Clinical evaluation of an inspiratory impedance threshold device during standard cardiopulmonary resuscitation in patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.

    PubMed

    Aufderheide, Tom P; Pirrallo, Ronald G; Provo, Terry A; Lurie, Keith G

    2005-04-01

    To determine whether an impedance threshold device, designed to enhance circulation, would increase acute resuscitation rates for patients in cardiac arrest receiving conventional manual cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Prospective, randomized, double-blind, intention-to-treat. Out-of-hospital trial conducted in the Milwaukee, WI, emergency medical services system. Adults in cardiac arrest of presumed cardiac etiology. On arrival of advanced life support, patients were treated with standard cardiopulmonary resuscitation combined with either an active or a sham impedance threshold device. We measured safety and efficacy of the impedance threshold device; the primary end point was intensive care unit admission. Statistical analyses performed included the chi-square test and multivariate regression analysis. One hundred sixteen patients were treated with a sham impedance threshold device, and 114 patients were treated with an active impedance threshold device. Overall intensive care unit admission rates were 17% with the sham device vs. 25% in the active impedance threshold device (p = .13; odds ratio, 1.64; 95% confidence interval, 0.87, 3.10). Patients in the subgroup presenting with pulseless electrical activity had intensive care unit admission and 24-hr survival rates of 20% and 12% in sham (n = 25) vs. 52% and 30% in active impedance threshold device groups (n = 27) (p = .018, odds ratio, 4.31; 95% confidence interval, 1.28, 14.5, and p = .12, odds ratio, 3.09; 95% confidence interval, 0.74, 13.0, respectively). A post hoc analysis of patients with pulseless electrical activity at any time during the cardiac arrest revealed that intensive care unit and 24-hr survival rates were 20% and 11% in the sham (n = 56) vs. 41% and 27% in the active impedance threshold device groups (n = 49) (p = .018, odds ratio, 2.82; 95% confidence interval, 1.19, 6.67, and p = .037, odds ratio, 3.01; 95% confidence interval, 1.07, 8.96, respectively). There were no statistically significant differences in outcomes for patients presenting in ventricular fibrillation and asystole. Adverse event and complication rates were also similar. During this first clinical trial of the impedance threshold device during standard cardiopulmonary resuscitation, use of the new device more than doubled short-term survival rates in patients presenting with pulseless electrical activity. A larger clinical trial is underway to determine the potential longer term benefits of the impedance threshold device in cardiac arrest.

  18. Electrophoretic deposition of ligand-free platinum nanoparticles on neural electrodes affects their impedance in vitro and in vivo with no negative effect on reactive gliosis.

    PubMed

    Angelov, Svilen D; Koenen, Sven; Jakobi, Jurij; Heissler, Hans E; Alam, Mesbah; Schwabe, Kerstin; Barcikowski, Stephan; Krauss, Joachim K

    2016-01-12

    Electrodes for neural stimulation and recording are used for the treatment of neurological disorders. Their features critically depend on impedance and interaction with brain tissue. The effect of surface modification on electrode impedance was examined in vitro and in vivo after intracranial implantation in rats. Electrodes coated by electrophoretic deposition with platinum nanoparticles (NP; <10 and 50 nm) as well as uncoated references were implanted into the rat's subthalamic nucleus. After postoperative recovery, rats were electrostimulated for 3 weeks. Impedance was measured before implantation, after recovery and then weekly during stimulation. Finally, local field potential was recorded and tissue-to-implant reaction was immunohistochemically studied. Coating with NP significantly increased electrode's impedance in vitro. Postoperatively, the impedance of all electrodes was temporarily further increased. This effect was lowest for the electrodes coated with particles <10 nm, which also showed the most stable impedance dynamics during stimulation for 3 weeks and the lowest total power of local field potential during neuronal activity recording. Histological analysis revealed that NP-coating did not affect glial reactions or neural cell-count. Coating with NP <10 nm may improve electrode's impedance stability without affecting biocompatibility. Increased impedance after NP-coating may improve neural recording due to better signal-to-noise ratio.

  19. Thinking Forbidden Thoughts: The Oedipus Complex as a Complex of Knowing.

    PubMed

    Schein, Michael

    2016-04-01

    The Oedipus complex, considered by Freud the "nuclear complex of development," played a central role in the evolution of psychoanalytic thought. This paper returns to the point of transition from the seduction theory, Freud's initial theorem, to the oedipal model, and suggests that the Oedipus complex is first and foremost a text and as such contains a multiplicity of narratives. In particular, the author articulates the close relation between the Oedipus complex and the subject of knowing, postulating that underlying its surface level, the deep-level structure of this complex is one of knowing. As a complex of knowing it is of dual quality, both promoting and impeding the ability to know.

  20. Total body composition estimated by standing-posture 8-electrode bioelectrical impedance analysis in male wrestlers.

    PubMed

    Cheng, M-F; Chen, Y-Y; Jang, T-R; Lin, W-L; Chen, J; Hsieh, K-C

    2016-12-01

    Standing-posture 8-electrode bioelectrical impedance analysis is a fast and practical method for evaluating body composition in clinical settings, which can be used to estimate percentage body fat (BF%) and skeletal muscle mass in a subject's total body and body segments. In this study, dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) was used as a reference method for validating the standing 8-electrode bioelectrical impedance analysis device BC-418 (BIA 8 , Tanita Corp., Tokyo, Japan). Forty-eight Taiwanese male wrestlers aged from 17.9 to 22.3 years volunteered to participate in this study. The lean soft tissue (LST) and BF% in the total body and body segments were measured in each subject by the BIA 8 and DXA. The correlation coefficients between total body, arm, leg segments impedance index (BI, ht 2 /Z) and lean soft tissue mass measured from DXA were r = 0.902, 0.453, 0.885, respectively (p < 0.01). In addition, the total body and segmental LST estimated by the BIA 8 were highly correlated with the DXA data (r = 0.936, 0.466, 0.886, p < 0.01). The estimation of total body and segmental BF% measured by BIA 8 and DXA also showed a significant correlation (r > 0.820, p < 0.01). The estimated LST and BF% from BIA 8 in the total body and body segments were highly correlated with the DXA results, which indicated that the standing-posture 8-electrode bioelectrical impedance analysis may be used to derive reference measures of LST and BF% in Taiwanese male wrestlers.

  1. Wideband Fully-Programmable Dual-Mode CMOS Analogue Front-End for Electrical Impedance Spectroscopy

    PubMed Central

    Valente, Virgilio; Demosthenous, Andreas

    2016-01-01

    This paper presents a multi-channel dual-mode CMOS analogue front-end (AFE) for electrochemical and bioimpedance analysis. Current-mode and voltage-mode readouts, integrated on the same chip, can provide an adaptable platform to correlate single-cell biosensor studies with large-scale tissue or organ analysis for real-time cancer detection, imaging and characterization. The chip, implemented in a 180-nm CMOS technology, combines two current-readout (CR) channels and four voltage-readout (VR) channels suitable for both bipolar and tetrapolar electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) analysis. Each VR channel occupies an area of 0.48 mm2, is capable of an operational bandwidth of 8 MHz and a linear gain in the range between −6 dB and 42 dB. The gain of the CR channel can be set to 10 kΩ, 50 kΩ or 100 kΩ and is capable of 80-dB dynamic range, with a very linear response for input currents between 10 nA and 100 μA. Each CR channel occupies an area of 0.21 mm2. The chip consumes between 530 μA and 690 μA per channel and operates from a 1.8-V supply. The chip was used to measure the impedance of capacitive interdigitated electrodes in saline solution. Measurements show close matching with results obtained using a commercial impedance analyser. The chip will be part of a fully flexible and configurable fully-integrated dual-mode EIS system for impedance sensors and bioimpedance analysis. PMID:27463721

  2. Total body composition estimated by standing-posture 8-electrode bioelectrical impedance analysis in male wrestlers

    PubMed Central

    Cheng, M-F; Chen, Y-Y; Jang, T-R; Lin, W-L; Chen, J

    2015-01-01

    Standing-posture 8-electrode bioelectrical impedance analysis is a fast and practical method for evaluating body composition in clinical settings, which can be used to estimate percentage body fat (BF%) and skeletal muscle mass in a subject’s total body and body segments. In this study, dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) was used as a reference method for validating the standing 8-electrode bioelectrical impedance analysis device BC-418 (BIA8, Tanita Corp., Tokyo, Japan). Forty-eight Taiwanese male wrestlers aged from 17.9 to 22.3 years volunteered to participate in this study. The lean soft tissue (LST) and BF% in the total body and body segments were measured in each subject by the BIA8 and DXA. The correlation coefficients between total body, arm, leg segments impedance index (BI, ht2/Z) and lean soft tissue mass measured from DXA were r = 0.902, 0.453, 0.885, respectively (p < 0.01). In addition, the total body and segmental LST estimated by the BIA8 were highly correlated with the DXA data (r = 0.936, 0.466, 0.886, p < 0.01). The estimation of total body and segmental BF% measured by BIA8 and DXA also showed a significant correlation (r > 0.820, p < 0.01). The estimated LST and BF% from BIA8 in the total body and body segments were highly correlated with the DXA results, which indicated that the standing-posture 8-electrode bioelectrical impedance analysis may be used to derive reference measures of LST and BF% in Taiwanese male wrestlers. PMID:28090145

  3. Dielectric and impedance spectral characteristics of bulk ZnIn2Se4

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    El-Nahass, M. M.; Attia, A. A.; Salem, G. F.; Ali, H. A. M.; Ismail, M. I.

    2014-02-01

    The frequency and temperature dependence of ac conductivity, dielectric constant and dielectric loss of ZnIn2Se4 in a pellet form were investigated in the frequency range of 102-106 Hz and temperature range of 293-356 K. The behavior of ac conductivity was interpreted by the correlated barrier hopping (CBH) model. Temperature dependence of ac conductivity indicates that ac conduction is a thermally activated process. The density of localized states N(EF) and ac activation energy were estimated for various frequencies. Dielectric constant and dielectric loss showed a decrease with increasing frequency and an increase with increasing in temperature. The frequency dependence of real and imaginary parts of the complex impedance was investigated. The relaxation time decreases with the increase in temperature. The impedance spectrum exhibits the appearance of the single semicircular arc. The radius of semicircular arcs decreases with increasing temperature which suggests a mechanism of temperature-dependent on relaxation.

  4. Development of an Inductively Coupled Thermometer for a Cryogenic Half-Wave Plate

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Madurowicz, Alexander; Kusaka, Akito

    2017-01-01

    The current state of Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) research has focused much attention on the measurement of polarization. In an effort to modulate the CMB polarization while also minimizing photon noise due to thermal emission, we are developing a sapphire half-wave plate (HWP) cooled to 50 K rotating at 2 Hz on a superconducting magnetic levitating bearing. In order to measure the temperature of the rotor without making physical contact, we designed an inductively coupled cryogenic thermometer. The complex impedance of the circuit has a resonant peak when driven around 1 MHz. The width of this resonance is dependent on the value of the resistor, which varies with temperature and functions as a thermometer once calibrated. In this talk, we will present results from stationary measurements of this impedance and discuss the temperature accuracy of this thermometer, as well as a preliminary circuit design to measure this impedance during the HWP rotation.

  5. High frequency lateral flow affinity assay using superparamagnetic nanoparticles

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lago-Cachón, D.; Rivas, M.; Martínez-García, J. C.; Oliveira-Rodríguez, M.; Blanco-López, M. C.; García, J. A.

    2017-02-01

    Lateral flow assay is one of the simplest and most extended techniques in medical diagnosis for point-of-care testing. Although it has been traditionally a positive/negative test, some work has been lately done to add quantitative abilities to lateral flow assay. One of the most successful strategies involves magnetic beads and magnetic sensors. Recently, a new technique of superparamagnetic nanoparticle detection has been reported, based on the increase of the impedance induced by the nanoparticles on a RF-current carrying copper conductor. This method requires no external magnetic field, which reduces the system complexity. In this work, nitrocellulose membranes have been installed on the sensor, and impedance measurements have been carried out during the sample diffusion by capillarity along the membrane. The impedance of the sensor changes because of the presence of magnetic nanoparticles. The results prove the potentiality of the method for point-of-care testing of biochemical substances and nanoparticle capillarity flow studies.

  6. Impedance and electric modulus approaches to investigate four origins of giant dielectric constant in CaCu3Ti4O12 ceramics

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Yuan, Wen-Xiang

    2012-03-01

    The frequency dependence of electric modulus of polycrystalline CaCu3Ti4O12 (CCTO) ceramics has been investigated. The experimental data have also been analyzed in the complex plane of impedance and electric modulus, and a suitable equivalent circuit has been proposed to explain the dielectric response. Four dielectric responses are first distinguished in the impedance and modulus spectroscopies. The results are well interpreted in terms of a triple insulating barrier capacitor model. Using this model, these four dielectric relaxations are attributed to the domain, domain-boundary, grain-boundary, and surface layer effects with three Maxwell-Wagner relaxations. Moreover, the values of the resistance and capacitance of bulk CCTO phase, domain-boundary, grain-boundary and surface layer contributions have been calculated directly from the peak characteristics of spectroscopic plots.

  7. High-Tc Superconducting Bolometer Noise Measurement Using Low Noise Transformers - Theory and Optimization

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Aslam, Shahid; Jones, Hollis H.

    2011-01-01

    Care must always be taken when performing noise measurements on high-Tc superconducting materials to ensure that the results are not from the measurement system itself. One situation likely to occur is with low noise transformers. One of the least understood devices, it provides voltage gain for low impedance inputs (< 100 ), e.g., YBaCuO and GdBaCuO thin films, with comparatively lower noise levels than other devices for instance field effect and bipolar junction transistors. An essential point made in this paper is that because of the complex relationships between the transformer ports, input impedance variance alters the transformer s transfer function in particular, the low frequency cutoff shift. The transfer of external and intrinsic transformer noise to the output along with optimization and precautions are treated; all the while, we will cohesively connect the transfer function shift, the load impedance, and the actual noise at the transformer output.

  8. Difference in electrodynamic transduction between speaker and alternator in thermoacoustic applications.

    PubMed

    Gonen, Eran; Grossman, Gershon

    2015-09-01

    Conventional reciprocating pistons, normally found in thermoacoustic engines, tend to introduce complex impedance characteristics, including acoustic, mechanical, and electrical portions. System behavior and performance usually rely on proper tuning processes and selection of an optimal point of operation, affected substantially by complementary hardware, typically adjusted for the specific application. The present study proposes an alternative perspective on the alternator behavior, by considering the relative motion between gas and piston during the engine mode of operation. Direct analytical derivation of the velocity distribution inside a tight seal gap and the associated impedance is employed to estimate the electro-acoustic conversion efficiency, thus indicating how to improve the system performance. The influence of acoustic phase, gap dimensions, and working conditions is examined, suggesting the need to develop tighter and longer seal gaps, having increased impedance, to allow optimization for use in upcoming sustainable power generation solutions and smart grids.

  9. The application of dual-electrode through vial impedance spectroscopy for the determination of ice interface temperatures, primary drying rate and vial heat transfer coefficient in lyophilization process development.

    PubMed

    Smith, Geoff; Jeeraruangrattana, Yowwares; Ermolina, Irina

    2018-06-22

    Through vial impedance spectroscopy (TVIS) is a product non-invasive process analytical technology which exploits the frequency dependence of the complex impedance spectrum of a composite object (i.e. the freeze-drying vial and its contents) in order to track the progression of the freeze-drying cycle. This work demonstrates the use of a dual electrode system, attached to the external surface of a type I glass tubing vial (nominal capacity 10 mL) in the prediction of (i) the ice interface temperatures at the sublimation front and at the base of the vial, and (ii) the primary drying rate. A value for the heat transfer coefficient (for a chamber pressure of 270 µbar) was then calculated from these parameters and shown to be comparable to that published by Tchessalov[1]. Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier B.V.

  10. Adaptive microwave impedance memory effect in a ferromagnetic insulator.

    PubMed

    Lee, Hanju; Friedman, Barry; Lee, Kiejin

    2016-12-14

    Adaptive electronics, which are often referred to as memristive systems as they often rely on a memristor (memory resistor), are an emerging technology inspired by adaptive biological systems. Dissipative systems may provide a proper platform to implement an adaptive system due to its inherent adaptive property that parameters describing the system are optimized to maximize the entropy production for a given environment. Here, we report that a non-volatile and reversible adaptive microwave impedance memory device can be realized through the adaptive property of the dissipative structure of the driven ferromagnetic system. Like the memristive device, the microwave impedance of the device is modulated as a function of excitation microwave passing through the device. This kind of new device may not only helpful to implement adaptive information processing technologies, but also may be useful to investigate and understand the underlying mechanism of spontaneous formation of complex and ordered structures.

  11. Real-time electrochemical impedance spectroscopy diagnosis of the solid oxide fuel cell for marine power applications

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Nakajima, Hironori; Kitahara, Tatsumi

    2017-11-01

    We have investigated the behavior of an operating solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) with supplying a simulated syngas to develop diagnosis method of the SOFC for marine power applications fueled with liquefied natural gas (LNG). We analyze the characteristics of a syngas-fueled intermediate temperature microtubular SOFC at 500 ∘C for accelerated deterioration by carbon deposition as a model case by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) to in-situ find parameters useful for the real-time diagnosis. EIS analyses are performed by complex nonlinear least squares (CNLS) curve fitting to measured impedance spectra with an equivalent electric circuit model consisting of several resistances and capacitances attributed to the anode and cathode processes as well as Ohmic resistance of the cell. The characteristic changes of those circuit parameters by internal reforming and anode degradation are extracted, showing that they can be used for the real-time diagnosis of operating SOFCs.

  12. Adaptive microwave impedance memory effect in a ferromagnetic insulator

    PubMed Central

    Lee, Hanju; Friedman, Barry; Lee, Kiejin

    2016-01-01

    Adaptive electronics, which are often referred to as memristive systems as they often rely on a memristor (memory resistor), are an emerging technology inspired by adaptive biological systems. Dissipative systems may provide a proper platform to implement an adaptive system due to its inherent adaptive property that parameters describing the system are optimized to maximize the entropy production for a given environment. Here, we report that a non-volatile and reversible adaptive microwave impedance memory device can be realized through the adaptive property of the dissipative structure of the driven ferromagnetic system. Like the memristive device, the microwave impedance of the device is modulated as a function of excitation microwave passing through the device. This kind of new device may not only helpful to implement adaptive information processing technologies, but also may be useful to investigate and understand the underlying mechanism of spontaneous formation of complex and ordered structures. PMID:27966536

  13. Scaling and the frequency dependence of Nyquist plot maxima of the electrical impedance of the human thigh.

    PubMed

    Shiffman, Carl

    2017-11-30

    To define and elucidate the properties of reduced-variable Nyquist plots. Non-invasive measurements of the electrical impedance of the human thigh. A retrospective analysis of the electrical impedances of 154 normal subjects measured over the past decade shows that 'scaling' of the Nyquist plots for human thigh muscles is a property shared by healthy thigh musculature, irrespective of subject and the length of muscle segment. Here the term scaling signifies the near and sometimes 'perfect' coalescence of the separate X versus R plots into one 'reduced' Nyquist plot by the simple expedient of dividing R and X by X m , the value of X at the reactance maximum. To the extent allowed by noise levels one can say that there is one 'universal' reduced Nyquist plot for the thigh musculature of healthy subjects. There is one feature of the Nyquist curves which is not 'universal', however, namely the frequency f m at which the maximum in X is observed. That is found to vary from 10 to 100 kHz. depending on subject and segment length. Analysis shows, however, that the mean value of 1/f m is an accurately linear function of segment length, though there is a small subject-to-subject random element as well. Also, following the recovery of an otherwise healthy victim of ankle fracture demonstrates the clear superiority of measurements above about 800 kHz, where scaling is not observed, in contrast to measurements below about 400 kHz, where scaling is accurately obeyed. The ubiquity of 'scaling' casts new light on the interpretation of impedance results as they are used in electrical impedance myography and bioelectric impedance analysis.

  14. The Potential Benefits of Applying Recent Advances in Esophageal Motility Testing in Patients with Esophageal Atresia

    PubMed Central

    Rommel, Nathalie; Rayyan, Maissa; Scheerens, Charlotte; Omari, Taher

    2017-01-01

    Infants and children with esophageal atresia commonly present with swallowing dysfunction or dysphagia. Dysphagia can lead to a range of significant consequences such as aspiration pneumonia, malnutrition, dehydration, and food impaction. To improve oral intake, the clinical diagnosis of dysphagia in patients with esophageal atresia should focus on both the pharynx and the esophagus. To characterize the complex interactions of bolus flow and motor function between mouth, pharynx, and esophagus, a detailed understanding of normal and abnormal deglutition is required through the use of adequate and objective assessment techniques. As clinical symptoms do not correlate well with conventional assessment methods of motor function such as radiology or manometry but do correlate with bolus flow, the current state-of-the-art diagnosis involves high-resolution manometry combined with impedance measurements to characterize the interplay between esophageal motor function and bolus clearance. Using a novel pressure flow analysis (PFA) method as an integrated analysis method of manometric and impedance measurements, differentiation of patients with impaired esophago-gastric junction relaxation from patients with bolus outflow disorders is clinically relevant. In this, pressure flow matrix categorizing the quantitative PFA measures may be used to make rational therapeutic decisions in patients with esophageal atresia. Through more advanced diagnostics, improved understanding of pathophysiology may improve our patient care by directly targeting the failed biomechanics of both the pharynx and the esophagus. PMID:28680874

  15. The Potential Benefits of Applying Recent Advances in Esophageal Motility Testing in Patients with Esophageal Atresia.

    PubMed

    Rommel, Nathalie; Rayyan, Maissa; Scheerens, Charlotte; Omari, Taher

    2017-01-01

    Infants and children with esophageal atresia commonly present with swallowing dysfunction or dysphagia. Dysphagia can lead to a range of significant consequences such as aspiration pneumonia, malnutrition, dehydration, and food impaction. To improve oral intake, the clinical diagnosis of dysphagia in patients with esophageal atresia should focus on both the pharynx and the esophagus. To characterize the complex interactions of bolus flow and motor function between mouth, pharynx, and esophagus, a detailed understanding of normal and abnormal deglutition is required through the use of adequate and objective assessment techniques. As clinical symptoms do not correlate well with conventional assessment methods of motor function such as radiology or manometry but do correlate with bolus flow, the current state-of-the-art diagnosis involves high-resolution manometry combined with impedance measurements to characterize the interplay between esophageal motor function and bolus clearance. Using a novel pressure flow analysis (PFA) method as an integrated analysis method of manometric and impedance measurements, differentiation of patients with impaired esophago-gastric junction relaxation from patients with bolus outflow disorders is clinically relevant. In this, pressure flow matrix categorizing the quantitative PFA measures may be used to make rational therapeutic decisions in patients with esophageal atresia. Through more advanced diagnostics, improved understanding of pathophysiology may improve our patient care by directly targeting the failed biomechanics of both the pharynx and the esophagus.

  16. Electrical conductivity studies on Ammonium bromide incorporated with Zwitterionic polymer blend electrolyte for battery application

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Parameswaran, V.; Nallamuthu, N.; Devendran, P.; Nagarajan, E. R.; Manikandan, A.

    2017-06-01

    Solid polymer blend electrolytes are widely studied due to their extensive applications particularly in electrochemical devices. Blending polymer makes the thermal stability, higher mechanical strength and inorganic salt provide ionic charge carrier to enhance the conductivity. In these studies, 50% polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), 50% poly (N-vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP) and 2.5% L-Asparagine mixed with different ratio of the Ammonium bromide (NH4Br), have been synthesized using solution casting technique. The prepared PVA/PVP/L-Asparagine/doped-NH4Br polymer blend electrolyte films have been characterized by various analytical methods such as FT-IR, XRD, impedance spectroscopy, TG-DSC and scanning electron microscopy. FT-IR, XRD and TG/DSC analysis revealed the structural and thermal behavior of the complex formation between PVA/PVP/L-Asparagine/doped-NH4Br. The ionic conductivity and the dielectric properties of PVA/PVP/L-Asparagine/doped-NH4Br polymer blend electrolyte films were examined using impedance analysis. The highest ionic conductivity was found to be 2.34×10-4 S cm-1 for the m.wt. composition of 50%PVA:50%PVP:2.5%L-Asparagine:doped 0.15 g NH4Br at ambient temperature. Solid state proton battery is fabricated and the observed open circuit voltage is 1.1 V and its performance has been studied.

  17. The bioimpedance analysis of a parenchyma of a liver in the conditions of its extensive resection in experiment

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Agibalov, D. Y.; Panchenkov, D. N.; Chertyuk, V. B.; Leonov, S. D.; Astakhov, D. A.

    2017-01-01

    The liver failure which is result of disharmony of functionality of a liver to requirements of an organism is the main reason for unsatisfactory results of an extensive resection of a liver. However, uniform effective criterion of definition of degree of a liver failure it isn’t developed now. One of data acquisition methods about a morfo-functional condition of internals is the bioimpedance analysis (BIA) based on impedance assessment (full electric resistance) of a biological tissue. Measurements of an impedance are used in medicine and biology for the characteristic of physical properties of living tissue, studying of the changes bound to a functional state and its structural features. In experimental conditions we carried out an extensive resection of a liver on 27 white laboratory rats of the Vistar line. The comparative characteristic of data of a bioimpedansometriya in intraoperative and after the operational period with the main existing methods of assessment of a functional condition of a liver was carried out. By results of the work performed by us it is possible to claim that the bioimpedance analysis of a liver on the basis of an invasive bioimpedansometriya allows to estimate morphological features and functional activity of a liver before performance of an extensive resection of a liver. The data obtained during scientific work are experimental justification for use of an impedansometriya during complex assessment of functional reserves of a liver. Preliminary data of clinical approbation at a stage of introduction of a technique speak about rather high informational content of a bioimpedansometriya. The subsequent analysis of efficiency of the invasive bioimpedance analysis of a liver requires further accumulation of clinical data. However even at this stage the method showed the prospect for further use in clinical surgical hepathology.

  18. Unassigned MS/MS Spectra: Who Am I?

    PubMed

    Pathan, Mohashin; Samuel, Monisha; Keerthikumar, Shivakumar; Mathivanan, Suresh

    2017-01-01

    Recent advances in high resolution tandem mass spectrometry (MS) has resulted in the accumulation of high quality data. Paralleled with these advances in instrumentation, bioinformatics software have been developed to analyze such quality datasets. In spite of these advances, data analysis in mass spectrometry still remains critical for protein identification. In addition, the complexity of the generated MS/MS spectra, unpredictable nature of peptide fragmentation, sequence annotation errors, and posttranslational modifications has impeded the protein identification process. In a typical MS data analysis, about 60 % of the MS/MS spectra remains unassigned. While some of these could attribute to the low quality of the MS/MS spectra, a proportion can be classified as high quality. Further analysis may reveal how much of the unassigned MS spectra attribute to search space, sequence annotation errors, mutations, and/or posttranslational modifications. In this chapter, the tools used to identify proteins and ways to assign unassigned tandem MS spectra are discussed.

  19. Dielectric and electric properties as a tool to investigate the coagulation mechanism during sludge treatment.

    PubMed

    Mortadi, A; Chahid, El G; Nasrellah, H; Cherkaoui, O; El Moznine, R

    2017-09-28

    The analysis of the complex permittivity, electrical complex modulus and the hopping conductivity have been employed in order to investigate the impacts of calcium oxide during sludge treatment in textile such as coagulation process. In this context, impedance measurement was performed on five samples, including raw sludge and four compositions containing different amounts of calcium oxide: 2%, 3%, 4% and 5% (w/w). The dielectric spectra of each composition were described by the summation of a power law and a Cole-Cole relaxation model. The relaxation time and the magnitude of the dielectric relaxation obtained from the analysis of dielectric properties showed an increase up to 3% of these parameters with the addition of calcium oxide. Above this critical value, both parameters showed a very small change, suggesting that the aggregation became more stable. In addition, the evolution of the hopping conductivity reached a minimum value at this critical amount (3%). This evolution was well described by a double power law, which allowed us to estimate the optimal amount of the calcium oxide to achieve coagulation process. The analysis of the dielectric properties was found useful in monitoring aggregation processes that occur during the coagulation mechanism in textile sludge.

  20. Analysis of a disk-type piezoelectric ultrasonic motor using impedance matrices.

    PubMed

    Kim, Young H; Ha, Sung K

    2003-12-01

    The dynamic behavior and the performance characteristics of the disk-type traveling wave piezoelectric ultrasonic motors (USM) are analyzed using impedance matrices. The stator is divided into three coupled subsystems: an inner metal disk, a piezoelectric annular actuator with segmented electrodes, and an outer metal disk with teeth. The effects of both shear deformation and rotary inertia are taken into account in deriving an impedance matrix for the piezoelectric actuator. The impedance matrices for each subsystem then are combined into a global impedance matrix using continuity conditions at the interfaces. A comparison is made between the impedance matrix model and the three-dimensional finite element model of the piezoelectric stator, obtaining the resonance and antiresonance frequencies and the effective electromechanical coupling factors versus circumferential mode numbers. Using the calculated resonance frequency and the vibration modes for the stator and a brush model with the Coulomb friction for the stator and rotor contact, stall torque, and no-load speed versus excitation frequencies are calculated at different preloads. Performance characteristics such as speed-torque curve and the output efficiency of the USM also are estimated using the current impedance matrix and the contact model. The present impedance model can be shown to be very effective in the design of the USM.

  1. An impedance analysis of double-stream interaction in semiconductors

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Chen, P. W.; Durney, C. H.

    1972-01-01

    The electromagnetic waves propagating through a drifting semiconductor plasma are studied from a macroscopic point of view in terms of double-stream interaction. The possible existing waves (helicon waves, longitudinal waves, ordinary waves, and pseudolongitudinal waves) which depend upon the orientation of the dc external magnetic field are derived. A powerful impedance concept is introduced to investigate the wave behavior of longitudinal (space charge) waves or pseudolongitudinal waves in a semiconductor plasma. The impedances due to one- and two-carrier stream interactions were calculated theoretically.

  2. The concept of coupling impedance in the self-consistent plasma wake field excitation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Fedele, R.; Akhter, T.; De Nicola, S.; Migliorati, M.; Marocchino, A.; Massimo, F.; Palumbo, L.

    2016-09-01

    Within the framework of the Vlasov-Maxwell system of equations, we describe the self-consistent interaction of a relativistic charged-particle beam with the surroundings while propagating through a plasma-based acceleration device. This is done in terms of the concept of coupling (longitudinal) impedance in full analogy with the conventional accelerators. It is shown that also here the coupling impedance is a very useful tool for the Nyquist-type stability analysis. Examples of specific physical situations are finally illustrated.

  3. Electrochemical impedance analysis of perovskite–electrolyte interfaces

    DOE PAGES

    Li, Zhen; Mercado, Candy C.; Yang, Mengjin; ...

    2017-01-31

    Here, the flat band potentials and carrier densities of spin coated and sprayed MAPbI 3, FA 0.85Cs 0.15PbI 3, and MAPbBr 3 perovskite films were determined using the Mott-Schottky relation. The films developed a space charge layer and exhibited p-type conduction with carrier concentration ~ 10 16 cm -3 for spin coated films. Electrochemical impedance spectra showed typical space charge impedance at frequencies > 1 kHz with increasing capacitance < 1 kHz owing to an ion diffusion component.

  4. Wavelet-based multiscale analysis of bioimpedance data measured by electric cell-substrate impedance sensing for classification of cancerous and normal cells.

    PubMed

    Das, Debanjan; Shiladitya, Kumar; Biswas, Karabi; Dutta, Pranab Kumar; Parekh, Aditya; Mandal, Mahitosh; Das, Soumen

    2015-12-01

    The paper presents a study to differentiate normal and cancerous cells using label-free bioimpedance signal measured by electric cell-substrate impedance sensing. The real-time-measured bioimpedance data of human breast cancer cells and human epithelial normal cells employs fluctuations of impedance value due to cellular micromotions resulting from dynamic structural rearrangement of membrane protrusions under nonagitated condition. Here, a wavelet-based multiscale quantitative analysis technique has been applied to analyze the fluctuations in bioimpedance. The study demonstrates a method to classify cancerous and normal cells from the signature of their impedance fluctuations. The fluctuations associated with cellular micromotion are quantified in terms of cellular energy, cellular power dissipation, and cellular moments. The cellular energy and power dissipation are found higher for cancerous cells associated with higher micromotions in cancer cells. The initial study suggests that proposed wavelet-based quantitative technique promises to be an effective method to analyze real-time bioimpedance signal for distinguishing cancer and normal cells.

  5. Assessment of the Body Composition and the Loss of Fat-Free Mass through Bioelectric Impedance Analysis in Patients Who Underwent Open Gastric Bypass

    PubMed Central

    de Freitas Junior, Wilson Rodrigues; Ilias, Elias Jirjoss; Kassab, Paulo; Cordts, Roberto; Porto, Paulo Gustavo; Martins Rodrigues, Francisco Cesar; Ali Taha, Mohamed Ibrahim; Carrara, Paulo; de Carvalho Aguiar, Isabella; de Oliveira, Luis Vicente Franco; Malheiros, Carlos Alberto

    2014-01-01

    Background. Bariatric surgery is considered an effective option for the management of morbid obesity. The incidence of obesity has been gradually increasing all over the world reaching epidemic proportions in some regions of the world. Obesity can cause a reduction of up to 22% in the life expectancy of morbidly obese patients. Objective. The objective of this paper is to assess the weight loss associated with the first 6 months after bariatric surgery using bioelectric impedance analysis (BIA) for the evaluation of fat mass and fat-free mass. Method. A total of 36 morbidly obese patients were subjected to open gastric bypass surgery. The patients weight was monitored before and after the procedure using the bioelectric impedance analysis. Results. Bariatric surgery resulted in an average percentage of weight loss of 28.6% (40 kg) as determined 6 months after the procedure was performed. Analysis of the different components of body weight indicated an undesirable loss of fat-free mass along with the reduction of total body weight. Conclusion. Open gastric bypass induced a significant loss of total weight and loss of fat-free mass in patients six months after the surgery. The use of bioelectric impedance analysis resulted in an appropriate estimation of the total weight components in individuals subjected to bariatric surgery allowing a more real analysis of the variation of weight after the surgery. PMID:24523649

  6. Measurement of electrical impedance of a Berea sandstone core during the displacement of saturated brine by oil and CO2 injections

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Liu, Yu; Xue, Ziqiu; Park, Hyuck; Kiyama, Tamotsu; Zhang, Yi; Nishizawa, Osamu; Chae, Kwang-seok

    2015-12-01

    Complex electrical impedance measurements were performed on a brine-saturated Berea sandstone core while oil and CO2 were injected at different pressures and temperatures. The saturations of brine, oil, and CO2 in the core were simultaneously estimated using an X-ray computed tomography scanner. The formation factor of this Berea core and the resistivity indexes versus the brine saturations were calculated using Archie's law. The experimental results found different flow patterns of oil under different pressures and temperatures. Fingers were observed for the first experiment at 10 MPa and 40 °C. The fingers were restrained as the viscosity ratio of oil and water changed in the second (10 MPa and 25 °C) and third (5 MPa and 25 °C) experiments. The resistivity index showed an exponential increase with a decrease in brine saturation. The saturation exponent varied from 1.4 to 4.0 at different pressure and temperature conditions. During the oil injection procedure, the electrical impedance increased with oil saturation and was significantly affected by different oil distributions; therefore, the impedance varied whether the finger was remarkable or not, even if the oil saturation remained constant. During the CO2 injection steps, the impedance showed almost no change with CO2 saturation because the brine in the pores became immobile after the oil injection.

  7. Calculating realistic voltages across the US power grid utilizing measured impedances and magnetic fields

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lucas, G.; Love, J. J.; Kelbert, A.; Bedrosian, P.; Rigler, E. J.

    2017-12-01

    Space weather induces significant geoelectric fields within Earth's subsurface that can adversely affect electric power grids. The complex interaction between space weather and the solid Earth has traditionally been approached with the use of simple 1-D impedance functions relating the inducing magnetic field to the induced geoelectric field. Ongoing data collection through the NSF EarthScope program has produced measured impedance data across much of the continental US. In this work, impedance data are convolved with magnetic field variations, obtained from USGS magnetic observatories, during a geomagnetic storm. This convolution produces geoelectric fields within the earth. These geoelectric fields are then integrated across power transmission lines to determine the voltage generated within each power line as a function of time during a geomagnetic storm. The voltages generated within the electric power grid will be shown for several historic geomagnetic storms. The estimated voltages calculated from 1-D and 3-D impedances differ by more than 100 V across some transmission lines. In combination with grounding resistance data and network topology, these voltage estimates can be utilized by power companies to estimate geomagnetically-induced currents throughout the network. These voltage estimates can provide information on which power lines are most vulnerable to geomagnetic storms, and assist power grid companies investigating where to install additional protections within their grid.

  8. Detecting effects of low levels of cytochalasin B in 3T3 fibroblast cultures by analysis of electrical noise obtained from cellular micromotion

    PubMed Central

    Lovelady, Douglas C.; Friedman, Jennifer; Patel, Sonali; Rabson, David A.; Lo, Chun-Min

    2009-01-01

    We performed micromotion experiments using electric cell-substrate impedance sensing (ECIS) on a confluent layer of 3T3 fibroblasts exposed to different low levels of the toxin cytochalasin B. This toxin is know to affect actin polymerization and to disrupt cytoskeletal structure and function in cells, changing the morphology of confluent cell cultures and altering the nature of the cellular micromotion, which is measured by ECIS as changes in impedance. By looking at several measures to characterize the long- and short-term correlations in the noise of the impedance time series, we are able to detect the effects of the toxin at concentrations down to 1 μM; there are intriguing hints that the effects may be discernible at levels as low as 0.1 μM. These measures include the power spectrum, the Hurst and detrended-fluctuation-analysis exponents, and the first zero and first 1/e crossings of the autocorrelation function. While most published work with ECIS uses only average impedance values, we demonstrate that noise analysis provides a more sensitive probe. PMID:19026529

  9. Comparison of bolus transit patterns identified by esophageal impedance to barium esophagram in patients with dysphagia.

    PubMed

    Cho, Y K; Choi, M-G; Oh, S N; Baik, C N; Park, J M; Lee, I S; Kim, S W; Choi, K Y; Chung, I-S

    2012-01-01

    Bolus transit through the esophagus has not been validated by videoesophagram in patients with dysphagia and changes in impedance with abnormal barium transit have not been described in those patients. The aim of this study was to compare esophageal impedance findings with barium esophagram measurements in patients with dysphagia. The consecutive patients with dysphagia underwent conventional multichannel esophageal impedance manometry, after which a barium videoesophagram was performed simultaneously with multichannel esophageal impedance manometry using a mean of three swallows of barium. Esophageal emptying patterns shown in the esophagogram were classified by the degree of intraesophageal stasis and presence of intraesophageal reflux. Bolus transit patterns in impedance were classified as complete and incomplete transit. Sixteen patients (M : F = 8 : 8, mean age, 47 years) were enrolled. Their manometric diagnosis were normal (n= 6), ineffective esophageal motility (n= 1), diffuse esophageal spasm (DES; n= 2), and achalasia (n= 7). Sixty-three swallows were analyzed. According to impedance analysis, 21/22 swallows with normal barium emptying showed complete transit (96%) and 31/32 swallows with severe stasis showed incomplete transit (97%). Nine swallows with mild stasis showed either complete or incomplete transit patterns in impedance. Swallows with mild barium stasis and complete transit in impedance were observed in patients who had received treatment (two patients with achalasia with history of esophageal balloonplasty and a patient with DES after nifedipine administration). Impedance reflected severe stasis with retrograde barium movement and described typical bolus transit patterns in patients with achalasia and DES. In conclusion, impedance-barium esophagram concordance is high for swallows with normal esophageal emptying and for severe barium stasis in patients with dysphagia. © 2011 Copyright the Authors. Journal compilation © 2011, Wiley Periodicals, Inc. and the International Society for Diseases of the Esophagus.

  10. ADAM: Analysis of Discrete Models of Biological Systems Using Computer Algebra

    PubMed Central

    2011-01-01

    Background Many biological systems are modeled qualitatively with discrete models, such as probabilistic Boolean networks, logical models, Petri nets, and agent-based models, to gain a better understanding of them. The computational complexity to analyze the complete dynamics of these models grows exponentially in the number of variables, which impedes working with complex models. There exist software tools to analyze discrete models, but they either lack the algorithmic functionality to analyze complex models deterministically or they are inaccessible to many users as they require understanding the underlying algorithm and implementation, do not have a graphical user interface, or are hard to install. Efficient analysis methods that are accessible to modelers and easy to use are needed. Results We propose a method for efficiently identifying attractors and introduce the web-based tool Analysis of Dynamic Algebraic Models (ADAM), which provides this and other analysis methods for discrete models. ADAM converts several discrete model types automatically into polynomial dynamical systems and analyzes their dynamics using tools from computer algebra. Specifically, we propose a method to identify attractors of a discrete model that is equivalent to solving a system of polynomial equations, a long-studied problem in computer algebra. Based on extensive experimentation with both discrete models arising in systems biology and randomly generated networks, we found that the algebraic algorithms presented in this manuscript are fast for systems with the structure maintained by most biological systems, namely sparseness and robustness. For a large set of published complex discrete models, ADAM identified the attractors in less than one second. Conclusions Discrete modeling techniques are a useful tool for analyzing complex biological systems and there is a need in the biological community for accessible efficient analysis tools. ADAM provides analysis methods based on mathematical algorithms as a web-based tool for several different input formats, and it makes analysis of complex models accessible to a larger community, as it is platform independent as a web-service and does not require understanding of the underlying mathematics. PMID:21774817

  11. Pulmonary-impedance power spectral analysis: A facile means of detecting radiation-induced gastrointestinal distress and performance decrement in man

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Rick, R. C.; Lushbaugh, C. C.; Mcdow, E.; Frome, E.

    1972-01-01

    Changes in respiratory variance revealed by power spectral analysis of the pulmonary impedance pneumogram can be used to detect and measure stresses directly or indirectly affecting human respiratory function. When gastrointestinal distress occurred during a series of 5 total-body exposures of 30 R at a rate of 1.5 R/min, it was accompanied by typical shifts in pulmonary impedance power spectra. These changes did not occur after protracted exposure of 250 R (30 R daily) at 1.5 R/hr that failed to cause radiation sickness. This system for quantitating respiratory effort can also be used to detect alterations in one's ability to perform under controlled exercise conditions.

  12. Acoustic Absorption Characteristics of an Orifice With a Mean Bias Flow

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Ahuja, K. K.; Gaeta, R. J., Jr.; DAgostino, M.; Jones, Mike (Technical Monitor)

    2000-01-01

    The objective of the study reported here was to acquire acoustic and flow data for numerical validation of impedance models that simulate bias flow through perforates. The impedance model is being developed by researchers at High Technology Corporation. This report documents normal incidence impedance measurements a singular circular orifice with mean flow passing through it. All measurements are made within a 1.12 inch (28.5 mm) diameter impedance tube. The mean flow is introduced upstream of the orifice (with the flow and incident sound wave travelling in the same direction) with an anechoic termination downstream of the orifice. Velocity profiles are obtained upstream of the orifice to characterize the inflow boundary conditions. Velocity in the center of the orifice is also obtained. All velocity measurements are made with a hot wire anemometer and subsequent checked with mass flow measurements made concurrently. All impedance measurements are made using the Two-Microphone Method. Although we have left the analysis of the data to the developers of the impedance models that simulate bias flow through perforate, our initial examination indicates that our results follow the trends consistent with published theory on impedance of perforates with a steady bias flow.

  13. Bioelectrical Impedance and Body Composition Assessment

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Martino, Mike

    2006-01-01

    This article discusses field tests that can be used in physical education programs. The most common field tests are anthropometric measurements, which include body mass index (BMI), girth measurements, and skinfold testing. Another field test that is gaining popularity is bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). Each method has particular strengths…

  14. Duct wall impedance control as an advanced concept for acoustic suppression enhancement. [engine noise reduction

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Dean, P. D.

    1978-01-01

    A systems concept procedure is described for the optimization of acoustic duct liner design for both uniform and multisegment types. The concept was implemented by the use of a double reverberant chamber flow duct facility coupled with sophisticated computer control and acoustic analysis systems. The optimization procedure for liner insertion loss was based on the concept of variable liner impedance produced by bias air flow through a multilayer, resonant cavity liner. A multiple microphone technique for in situ wall impedance measurements was used and successfully adapted to produce automated measurements for all liner configurations tested. The complete validation of the systems concept was prevented by the inability to optimize the insertion loss using bias flow induced wall impedance changes. This inability appeared to be a direct function of the presence of a higher order energy carrying modes which were not influenced significantly by the wall impedance changes.

  15. Power dissipation in fractal AC circuits

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Chen, Joe P.; Rogers, Luke G.; Anderson, Loren; Andrews, Ulysses; Brzoska, Antoni; Coffey, Aubrey; Davis, Hannah; Fisher, Lee; Hansalik, Madeline; Loew, Stephen; Teplyaev, Alexander

    2017-08-01

    We extend Feynman’s analysis of an infinite ladder circuit to fractal circuits, providing examples in which fractal circuits constructed with purely imaginary impedances can have characteristic impedances with positive real part. Using (weak) self-similarity of our fractal structures, we provide algorithms for studying the equilibrium distribution of energy on these circuits. This extends the analysis of self-similar resistance networks introduced by Fukushima, Kigami, Kusuoka, and more recently studied by Strichartz et al.

  16. Building online learning communities in a graduate dental hygiene program.

    PubMed

    Rogo, Ellen J; Portillo, Karen M

    2014-08-01

    The literature abounds with research related to building online communities in a single course; however, limited evidence is available on this phenomenon from a program perspective. The intent of this qualitative case study inquiry was to explore student experiences in a graduate dental hygiene program contributing or impeding the development and sustainability of online learning communities. Approval from the IRB was received. A purposive sampling technique was used to recruit participants from a stratification of students and graduates. A total of 17 participants completed semi-structured interviews. Data analysis was completed through 2 rounds - 1 for coding responses and 1 to construct categories of experiences. The participants' collective definition of an online learning community was a complex synergistic network of interconnected people who create positive energy. The findings indicated the development of this network began during the program orientation and was beneficial for building a foundation for the community. Students felt socially connected and supported by the network. Course design was another important category for participation in weekly discussions and group activities. Instructors were viewed as active participants in the community, offering helpful feedback and being a facilitator in discussions. Experiences impeding the development of online learning communities related to the poor performance of peers and instructors. Specific categories of experiences supported and impeded the development of online learning communities related to the program itself, course design, students and faculty. These factors are important to consider in order to maximize student learning potential in this environment. Copyright © 2014 The American Dental Hygienists’ Association.

  17. Impedance spectroscopy of the oxide films formed during high temperature oxidation of a cobalt-plated ferritic alloy

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Velraj, S.; Zhu, J. H.; Painter, A. S.; Du, S. W.; Li, Y. T.

    2014-02-01

    Impedance spectroscopy was used to evaluate the oxide films formed on cobalt-coated Crofer 22 APU ferritic stainless steel after thermal oxidation at 800 °C in air for different times (i.e. 2, 50, 100 and 500 h). Impedance spectra of the oxide films exhibited two or three semicircles depending on the oxidation time, which correspond to the presence of two or three individual oxide layers. Coupled with scanning electron microscopy/energy-dispersive spectroscopy (SEM/EDS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD), the individual oxide layer corresponding to each semicircle was determined unambiguously. Impedance spectrum analysis of the oxide films formed on the sample after thermal exposure at 800 °C in air for 2 h led to the identification of the low-frequency and high-frequency semicircles as being from Cr2O3 and Co3O4, respectively. SEM/EDS and XRD analysis of the 500-h sample clearly revealed the presence of three oxide layers, analyzed to be Co3-xCrxO4, CoCr2O4, and Cr2O3. Although the SEM images of the 50-h and 100-h samples did not clearly show the CoCr2O4 layer, impedance plots implied their presence. The oxide scales were assigned to their respective semicircles and the electrical properties of Co3-xCrxO4, CoCr2O4 and Cr2O3 were determined from the impedance data.

  18. Pharyngeal pH alone is not reliable for the detection of pharyngeal reflux events: A study with oesophageal and pharyngeal pH-impedance monitoring

    PubMed Central

    Desjardin, Marie; Roman, Sabine; des Varannes, Stanislas Bruley; Gourcerol, Guillaume; Coffin, Benoit; Ropert, Alain; Mion, François

    2013-01-01

    Background Pharyngeal pH probes and pH-impedance catheters have been developed for the diagnosis of laryngo-pharyngeal reflux. Objective To determine the reliability of pharyngeal pH alone for the detection of pharyngeal reflux events. Methods 24-h pH-impedance recordings performed in 45 healthy subjects with a bifurcated probe for detection of pharyngeal and oesophageal reflux events were reviewed. Pharyngeal pH drops to below 4 and 5 were analysed for the simultaneous occurrence of pharyngeal reflux, gastro-oesophageal reflux, and swallows, according to impedance patterns. Results Only 7.0% of pharyngeal pH drops to below 5 identified with impedance corresponded to pharyngeal reflux, while 92.6% were related to swallows and 10.2 and 13.3% were associated with proximal and distal gastro-oesophageal reflux events, respectively. Of pharyngeal pH drops to below 4, 13.2% were related to pharyngeal reflux, 87.5% were related to swallows, and 18.1 and 21.5% were associated with proximal and distal gastro-oesophageal reflux events, respectively. Conclusions This study demonstrates that pharyngeal pH alone is not reliable for the detection of pharyngeal reflux and that adding distal oesophageal pH analysis is not helpful. The only reliable analysis should take into account impedance patterns demonstrating the presence of pharyngeal reflux event preceded by a distal and proximal reflux event within the oesophagus. PMID:24917995

  19. Evaluation of electrical broad bandwidth impedance spectroscopy as a tool for body composition measurement in cows in comparison with body measurements and the deuterium oxide dilution method.

    PubMed

    Schäff, C T; Pliquett, U; Tuchscherer, A; Pfuhl, R; Görs, S; Metges, C C; Hammon, H M; Kröger-Koch, C

    2017-05-01

    Body fatness and degree of body fat mobilization in cows vary enormously during their reproduction cycle and influence energy partitioning and metabolic adaptation. The objective of the study was to test bioelectrical impedance spectroscopy (BIS) as a method for predicting fat depot mass (FDM), in living cows. The FDM is defined as the sum of subcutaneous, omental, mesenteric, retroperitoneal, and carcass fat mass. Bioelectrical impedance spectroscopy is compared with the prediction of FDM from the deuterium oxide (DO) dilution method and from body conformation measurements. Charolais × Holstein Friesian (HF; = 18; 30 d in milk) crossbred cows and 2 HF (lactating and nonlactating) cows were assessed by body conformation measurements, BIS, and the DO dilution method. The BCS of cows was a mean of 3.68 (SE 0.64). For the DO dilution method, a bolus of 0.23 g/kg BW DO (60 atom%) was intravenously injected and deuterium (D) enrichment was analyzed in plasma and whey by stabile isotope mass spectrometry, and total body water content was calculated. Impedance measurement was performed using a 4-electrode interface and time domain-based measurement system consisting of a voltage/current converter for applying current stimulus and an amplifier for monitoring voltage across the sensor electrodes. For the BIS, we used complex impedances over three frequency decades that delivers information on intra- and extracellular water and capacity of cell membranes. Impedance data (resistance of extra- and intracellular space, cell membrane capacity, and phase angle) were extracted 1) by simple curve fit to extract the resistance at direct current and high frequency and 2) by using an electrical equivalent circuit. Cows were slaughtered 7 d after BIS and D enrichment measurements and dissected for the measurement of FDM. Multiple linear regression analyses were performed to predict FDM based on data obtained from body conformation measurements, BIS, and D enrichment, and applied methods were evaluated by cross-validation. The FDM varied widely between cows and was correlated to D enrichment in plasma ( = 0.91, < 0.05). Prediction of FDM by body size measurements was less precise ( = 0.84), but FDM prediction was more accurate using D enrichment in plasma ( = 0.90) and BIS ( = 0.99) data. Therefore, both BIS and D enrichment analysis resulted in similarly good predictions of FDM in cows, and we conclude that BIS could have the potential to predict FDM in dairy cows from 40 to 380 kg.

  20. Acoustic Impedance Inversion of Seismic Data Using Genetic Algorithm

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Eladj, Said; Djarfour, Noureddine; Ferahtia, Djalal; Ouadfeul, Sid-Ali

    2013-04-01

    The inversion of seismic data can be used to constrain estimates of the Earth's acoustic impedance structure. This kind of problem is usually known to be non-linear, high-dimensional, with a complex search space which may be riddled with many local minima, and results in irregular objective functions. We investigate here the performance and the application of a genetic algorithm, in the inversion of seismic data. The proposed algorithm has the advantage of being easily implemented without getting stuck in local minima. The effects of population size, Elitism strategy, uniform cross-over and lower mutation are examined. The optimum solution parameters and performance were decided as a function of the testing error convergence with respect to the generation number. To calculate the fitness function, we used L2 norm of the sample-to-sample difference between the reference and the inverted trace. The cross-over probability is of 0.9-0.95 and mutation has been tested at 0.01 probability. The application of such a genetic algorithm to synthetic data shows that the inverted acoustic impedance section was efficient. Keywords: Seismic, Inversion, acoustic impedance, genetic algorithm, fitness functions, cross-over, mutation.

  1. [Definite of nutritional status in patients with metabolic syndrome with the use of modern methods of nutrimetabolomica].

    PubMed

    Viskunova, A A; Kaganov, B S; Sharafetdinov, Kh Kh; Plotnikova, O A; Pogozheva, A V; Vorozhko, I V

    2010-01-01

    A comprehensive assessment of nutritional status in 73 patients with metabolic syndrome was assessed. The consumption food pattern of the majority of examined patients have had increased energy intake with excessive fat consumption inadequate intake of complex carbohydrates. In patients with type 2 diabetes inadequate compensation of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism was marked. When assessing body composition method bioelectrical impedance analysis increased content of adipose tissue was revealed are positively correlated with insulin and tumor necrosis factor-alpha. According to indirect calorimetry, increase in the level of resting energy expenditure, reducing the rate of oxidation of fat, increase the rate of oxidation of protein and carbohydrates was noted.

  2. Numerical analysis and experiment to identify origin of buckling in rapid cycling synchrotron core

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Morita, Y.; Kageyama, T.; Akoshima, M.; Torizuka, S.; Tsukamoto, M.; Yamashita, S.; Yoshikawa, N.

    2013-11-01

    The accelerating cavities used in the rapid cycling synchrotron (RCS) of the Japan Proton Accelerator Research Complex (J-PARC) are loaded with magnetic alloy (MA) cores. Over lengthly periods of RCS operation, significant reductions in the impedance of the cavities resulting from the buckling of the cores were observed. A series of thermal structural simulations and compressive strength tests showed that the buckling can be attributed to the low-viscosity epoxy resin impregnation of the MA core that causes the stiffening of the originally flexible MA-ribbon-wound core. Our results showed that thermal stress can be effectively reduced upon using a core that is not epoxy-impregnated.

  3. Effect of Thermal Shock During Legionella Bacteria Removal on the Corrosion Properties of Zinc-Coated Steel Pipes

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Orlikowski, Juliusz; Ryl, Jacek; Jazdzewska, Agata; Krakowiak, Stefan

    2016-07-01

    The purpose of this investigation was to conduct the failure analysis of a water-supply system made from zinc-coated steel. The observed corrosion process had an intense and complex character. The brownish deposits and perforations were present after 2-3 years of exploitation. The electrochemical study based on the Tafel polarization, corrosion potential monitoring, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy together with microscopic analysis via SEM and EDX were performed in order to identify the cause of such intense corrosion. The performed measurements allowed us to determine that thermal shock was the source of polarity-reversal phenomenon. This process had begun the corrosion of steel which later led to the formation of deposits and perforations in the pipes. The work includes appropriate action in order to efficiently identify the described corrosion threat.

  4. Bioelectrical impedance analysis to define an excess of body fat: evaluation in patients with psoriasis.

    PubMed

    Galluzzo, M; Talamonti, M; Perino, F; Servoli, S; Giordano, D; Chimenti, S; De Simone, C; Peris, K

    2017-06-01

    There is strong evidence that obesity is closely associated with psoriasis. However, data on body composition are lacking in psoriasis. The purpose of this study were to investigate the body composition in psoriasis patients using bioelectrical impedance analysis and to correlate the bioelectrical impedance data with disease severity and laboratory parameters. Anthropometric measurements and bioelectrical impedance analyses were performed on patients with psoriasis, naïve to any systemic treatment, who attended the outpatient clinics of two University centers. Data of 164 adult patients were analyzed. Compared to men, women had several significantly higher bioelectrical impedance parameters including reactance, fat mass% and adipose tissue%. The values of adipose tissue were positively correlated only with patients age (p = .021) and age at disease onset (p = .0006), but not with disease severity. In addition, we observed that the use of BMI cutoffs allowed to categorize 36.7% of women and 19.2% of men as obese, while fat mass% showed that 53.3% of women and 48.1% of men were obese. In our study, psoriasis is been associated with a high fat mass%. We suggest that screening for body fat distribution in psoriatic patients might be useful to identify early obesity-related disease.

  5. Synthesis and characterization of an effective organic/inorganic hybrid green corrosion inhibitive complex based on zinc acetate/Urtica Dioica

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Salehi, E.; Naderi, Reza; Ramezanzadeh, B.

    2017-02-01

    This study aims at synthesis and characterization of an effective corrosion inhibitive complex based on zinc acetate/Urtica Dioica (ZnA-U.D) for corrosion protection of mild steel in chloride solution. The chemical structure and morphology of the complex were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), UV-vis, thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The corrosion protection performance of the mild steel samples dipped in 3.5 wt.% NaCl solutions with and without ZnA-U.D extract was investigated by visual observations, open circuit potential (OCP) measurements, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and polarization test. Results revealed that the ZnA successfully chelated with organic inhibitive compounds (i.e Quercetin, Quinic acid, Caffeic acid, Hystamine and Serotonin) present in the U.D extract. The electrochemical measurements revealed the effective inhibition action of ZnA-U.D complex in the sodium chloride solution on the mild steel. The synergistic effect between Zn2+ and organic compounds present in the U.D extract resulted in protective film deposition on the steel surface, which was proved by SEM and XPS analyses.

  6. Determination of the Thermal Noise Limit of Graphene Biotransistors.

    PubMed

    Crosser, Michael S; Brown, Morgan A; McEuen, Paul L; Minot, Ethan D

    2015-08-12

    To determine the thermal noise limit of graphene biotransistors, we have measured the complex impedance between the basal plane of single-layer graphene and an aqueous electrolyte. The impedance is dominated by an imaginary component but has a finite real component. Invoking the fluctuation-dissipation theorem, we determine the power spectral density of thermally driven voltage fluctuations at the graphene/electrolyte interface. The fluctuations have 1/f(p) dependence, with p = 0.75-0.85, and the magnitude of fluctuations scales inversely with area. Our results explain noise spectra previously measured in liquid-gated suspended graphene devices and provide realistic targets for future device performance.

  7. Broadband impedance-matched electromagnetic structured ferrite composite in the megahertz range

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Parke, L.; Hibbins, A. P.; Sambles, J. R.

    2014-06-02

    A high refractive-index structured ferrite composite is designed to experimentally demonstrate broadband impedance matching to free-space. It consists of an array of ferrite cubes that are anisotropically spaced, thereby allowing for independent control of the effective complex permeability and permittivity. Despite having a refractive index of 9.5, the array gives less than 1% reflection and over 90% transmission of normally incident radiation up to 70 MHz for one of the orthogonal linear polarisations lying in a symmetry plane of the array. This result presents a route to the design of MHz-frequency ferrite composites with bespoke electromagnetic parameters for antenna miniaturisation.

  8. Diagnostic criteria for mass lesions differentiating in electrical impedance mammography

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    A, Karpov; M, Korotkova

    2013-04-01

    The purpose of this research was to determine the diagnostic criteria for differentiating volumetric lesions in the mammary gland in electrical impedance mammography. The research was carried out utilizing the electrical impedance computer mammograph llMEIK v.5.6gg®, which enables to acquire images of 3-D conductivity distribution layers within mamma's tissues up to 5 cm depth. The weighted reciprocal projection method was employed to reconstruct the 3-D electric conductivity distribution of the examined organ. The results of 3,710 electrical impedance examinations were analyzed. The analysis of a volumetric lesion included assessment of its shape, contour, internal electrical structure and changes of the surrounding tissues. Moreover, mammary gland status was evaluated with the help of comparative and age-related electrical conductivity curves. The diagnostic chart is provided. Each criterion is measured in points. Using the numerical score for evaluation of mass and non-volumetric lesions within the mammary gland in electrical impedance mammography allowed comparing this information to BI-RADS categories developed by American College of Radiology experts. The article is illustrated with electrical impedance mammograms and tables.

  9. New equivalent-electrical circuit model and a practical measurement method for human body impedance.

    PubMed

    Chinen, Koyu; Kinjo, Ichiko; Zamami, Aki; Irei, Kotoyo; Nagayama, Kanako

    2015-01-01

    Human body impedance analysis is an effective tool to extract electrical information from tissues in the human body. This paper presents a new measurement method of impedance using armpit electrode and a new equivalent circuit model for the human body. The lowest impedance was measured by using an LCR meter and six electrodes including armpit electrodes. The electrical equivalent circuit model for the cell consists of resistance R and capacitance C. The R represents electrical resistance of the liquid of the inside and outside of the cell, and the C represents high frequency conductance of the cell membrane. We propose an equivalent circuit model which consists of five parallel high frequency-passing CR circuits. The proposed equivalent circuit represents alpha distribution in the impedance measured at a lower frequency range due to ion current of the outside of the cell, and beta distribution at a high frequency range due to the cell membrane and the liquid inside cell. The calculated values by using the proposed equivalent circuit model were consistent with the measured values for the human body impedance.

  10. Evaluation of electrical impedance ratio measurements in accuracy of electronic apex locators.

    PubMed

    Kim, Pil-Jong; Kim, Hong-Gee; Cho, Byeong-Hoon

    2015-05-01

    The aim of this paper was evaluating the ratios of electrical impedance measurements reported in previous studies through a correlation analysis in order to explicit it as the contributing factor to the accuracy of electronic apex locator (EAL). The literature regarding electrical property measurements of EALs was screened using Medline and Embase. All data acquired were plotted to identify correlations between impedance and log-scaled frequency. The accuracy of the impedance ratio method used to detect the apical constriction (APC) in most EALs was evaluated using linear ramp function fitting. Changes of impedance ratios for various frequencies were evaluated for a variety of file positions. Among the ten papers selected in the search process, the first-order equations between log-scaled frequency and impedance were in the negative direction. When the model for the ratios was assumed to be a linear ramp function, the ratio values decreased if the file went deeper and the average ratio values of the left and right horizontal zones were significantly different in 8 out of 9 studies. The APC was located within the interval of linear relation between the left and right horizontal zones of the linear ramp model. Using the ratio method, the APC was located within a linear interval. Therefore, using the impedance ratio between electrical impedance measurements at different frequencies was a robust method for detection of the APC.

  11. Analyses of the Post-reflux Swallow-induced Peristaltic Wave Index and Nocturnal Baseline Impedance Parameters Increase the Diagnostic Yield of Impedance-pH Monitoring of Patients With Reflux Disease.

    PubMed

    Frazzoni, Marzio; Savarino, Edoardo; de Bortoli, Nicola; Martinucci, Irene; Furnari, Manuele; Frazzoni, Leonardo; Mirante, Vincenzo Giorgio; Bertani, Helga; Marchi, Santino; Conigliaro, Rita; Savarino, Vincenzo

    2016-01-01

    Analyses of impedance parameters such as the post-reflux swallow-induced peristaltic wave (PSPW) index and the mean nocturnal baseline impedance (MNBI) have been proposed to increase the accuracy of diagnosis of reflux disease. We assessed whether these improve the diagnostic yield of impedance pH monitoring of reflux disease. We performed a prospective study of consecutive patients with proton pump inhibitor-responsive heartburn who underwent 24-hour impedance pH monitoring at hospitals in Italy from January 2011 through December 2013. Reviewers blindly analyzed off-therapy impedance pH tracings from 289 patients with proton pump inhibitor-responsive heartburn, 68 with erosive reflux disease and 221 with non-erosive reflux disease (NERD), along with 50 healthy individuals (controls). The PSPW index, the MNBI, the esophageal acid exposure time, the number of total refluxes, and the bolus exposure were calculated, as well as the symptom association probability (SAP) and the symptom index (SI). In receiver operating characteristic analysis, the area under curve of the PSPW index (0.977; 95% confidence interval, 0.961-0.993) was significantly greater than that of the other impedance pH parameters in identifying patients with reflux disease (P < .001). The PSPW index and the MNBI identified patients with erosive reflux disease with the highest level of sensitivity (100% and 91%, respectively), as well as the 118 pH-positive (99% and 86%) and 103 pH-negative (77% and 56%) cases of NERD. The PSPW index and the MNBI identified pH-negative NERD with the highest level of sensitivity; values were 82% and 52% for the 65 SAP-positive and/or SI-positive cases and 68% and 63% for the 38 SAP-negative and SI-negative cases. Diagnoses of NERD were confirmed by pH-only criteria, including those that were positive on the basis of the SAP or SI, for 165 of 221 cases (75%) and by impedance pH criteria for 216 of 221 cases (98%) (P = .001). The PSPW index and the MNBI increase the diagnostic yield of impedance pH monitoring of patients with reflux disease. Analysis of impedance pH data by calculating the PSPW index and the MNBI can increase the accuracy of diagnosis of patients with reflux disease, compared with pH-only data. Copyright © 2016 AGA Institute. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  12. Gastric Emptying Assessment in Frequency and Time Domain Using Bio-impedance: Preliminary Results

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Huerta-Franco, R.; Vargas-Luna, M.; Hernández, E.; Córdova, T.; Sosa, M.; Gutiérrez, G.; Reyes, P.; Mendiola, C.

    2006-09-01

    The impedance assessment to measure gastric emptying and in general gastric activity has been reported since 1985. The physiological interpretation of these measurements, is still under research. This technique usually uses a single frequency, and the conductivity parameter. The frequency domain and the Fourier analysis of the time domain behavior of the gastric impedance in different gastric conditions (fasting state, and after food administration) has not been explored in detail. This work presents some insights of the potentiality of these alternative methodologies to measure gastric activity.

  13. Model Parameterization and P-wave AVA Direct Inversion for Young's Impedance

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zong, Zhaoyun; Yin, Xingyao

    2017-05-01

    AVA inversion is an important tool for elastic parameters estimation to guide the lithology prediction and "sweet spot" identification of hydrocarbon reservoirs. The product of the Young's modulus and density (named as Young's impedance in this study) is known as an effective lithology and brittleness indicator of unconventional hydrocarbon reservoirs. Density is difficult to predict from seismic data, which renders the estimation of the Young's impedance inaccurate in conventional approaches. In this study, a pragmatic seismic AVA inversion approach with only P-wave pre-stack seismic data is proposed to estimate the Young's impedance to avoid the uncertainty brought by density. First, based on the linearized P-wave approximate reflectivity equation in terms of P-wave and S-wave moduli, the P-wave approximate reflectivity equation in terms of the Young's impedance is derived according to the relationship between P-wave modulus, S-wave modulus, Young's modulus and Poisson ratio. This equation is further compared to the exact Zoeppritz equation and the linearized P-wave approximate reflectivity equation in terms of P- and S-wave velocities and density, which illustrates that this equation is accurate enough to be used for AVA inversion when the incident angle is within the critical angle. Parameter sensitivity analysis illustrates that the high correlation between the Young's impedance and density render the estimation of the Young's impedance difficult. Therefore, a de-correlation scheme is used in the pragmatic AVA inversion with Bayesian inference to estimate Young's impedance only with pre-stack P-wave seismic data. Synthetic examples demonstrate that the proposed approach is able to predict the Young's impedance stably even with moderate noise and the field data examples verify the effectiveness of the proposed approach in Young's impedance estimation and "sweet spots" evaluation.

  14. Measuring body composition in dogs using multifrequency bioelectrical impedance analysis and dual energy X-ray absorptiometry.

    PubMed

    Rae, L S; Vankan, D M; Rand, J S; Flickinger, E A; Ward, L C

    2016-06-01

    Thirty-five healthy, neutered, mixed breed dogs were used to determine the ability of multifrequency bioelectrical impedance analysis (MFBIA) to predict accurately fat-free mass (FFM) in dogs using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA)-measured FFM as reference. A second aim was to compare MFBIA predictions with morphometric predictions. MFBIA-based predictors provided an accurate measure of FFM, within 1.5% when compared to DXA-derived FFM, in normal weight dogs. FFM estimates were most highly correlated with DXA-measured FFM when the prediction equation included resistance quotient, bodyweight, and body condition score. At the population level, the inclusion of impedance as a predictor variable did not add substantially to the predictive power achieved with morphometric variables alone; in individual dogs, impedance predictors were more valuable than morphometric predictors. These results indicate that, following further validation, MFBIA could provide a useful tool in clinical practice to objectively measure FFM in canine patients and help improve compliance with prevention and treatment programs for obesity in dogs. Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

  15. Development of Bio-impedance Analyzer (BIA) for Body Fat Calculation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Riyadi, Munawar A.; Nugraha, A.; Santoso, M. B.; Septaditya, D.; Prakoso, T.

    2017-04-01

    Common weight scales cannot assess body composition or determine fat mass and fat-fress mass that make up the body weight. This research propose bio-impedance analysis (BIA) tool capable to body composition assessment. This tool uses four electrodes, two of which are used for 50 kHz sine wave current flow to the body and the rest are used to measure the voltage produced by the body for impedance analysis. Parameters such as height, weight, age, and gender are provided individually. These parameters together with impedance measurements are then in the process to produce a body fat percentage. The experimental result shows impressive repeatability for successive measurements (stdev ≤ 0.25% fat mass). Moreover, result on the hand to hand node scheme reveals average absolute difference of total subjects between two analyzer tools of 0.48% (fat mass) with maximum absolute discrepancy of 1.22% (fat mass). On the other hand, the relative error normalized to Omron’s HBF-306 as comparison tool reveals less than 2% relative error. As a result, the system performance offers good evaluation tool for fat mass in the body.

  16. Sensitivity analysis of respiratory parameter uncertainties: impact of criterion function form and constraints.

    PubMed

    Lutchen, K R

    1990-08-01

    A sensitivity analysis based on weighted least-squares regression is presented to evaluate alternative methods for fitting lumped-parameter models to respiratory impedance data. The goal is to maintain parameter accuracy simultaneously with practical experiment design. The analysis focuses on predicting parameter uncertainties using a linearized approximation for joint confidence regions. Applications are with four-element parallel and viscoelastic models for 0.125- to 4-Hz data and a six-element model with separate tissue and airway properties for input and transfer impedance data from 2-64 Hz. The criterion function form was evaluated by comparing parameter uncertainties when data are fit as magnitude and phase, dynamic resistance and compliance, or real and imaginary parts of input impedance. The proper choice of weighting can make all three criterion variables comparable. For the six-element model, parameter uncertainties were predicted when both input impedance and transfer impedance are acquired and fit simultaneously. A fit to both data sets from 4 to 64 Hz could reduce parameter estimate uncertainties considerably from those achievable by fitting either alone. For the four-element models, use of an independent, but noisy, measure of static compliance was assessed as a constraint on model parameters. This may allow acceptable parameter uncertainties for a minimum frequency of 0.275-0.375 Hz rather than 0.125 Hz. This reduces data acquisition requirements from a 16- to a 5.33- to 8-s breath holding period. These results are approximations, and the impact of using the linearized approximation for the confidence regions is discussed.

  17. Effect of bolus volume and viscosity on pharyngeal automated impedance manometry variables derived for broad Dysphagia patients.

    PubMed

    Omari, Taher I; Dejaeger, Eddy; Tack, Jan; Van Beckevoort, Dirk; Rommel, Nathalie

    2013-06-01

    Automated impedance manometry (AIM) analysis measures swallow variables defining bolus timing, pressure, contractile vigour, and bolus presence, which are combined to derive a swallow risk index (SRI) correlating with aspiration. In a heterogeneous cohort of dysphagia patients, we assessed the impact of bolus volume and viscosity on AIM variables. We studied 40 patients (average age = 46 years). Swallowing of boluses was recorded with manometry, impedance, and videofluoroscopy. AIMplot software was used to derive functional variables: peak pressure (PeakP), pressure at nadir impedance (PNadImp), time from nadir impedance to peak pressure (TNadImp-PeakP), the interval of impedance drop in the distal pharynx (flow interval, FI), upper oesophageal sphincter (UES) relaxation interval (UES RI), nadir UES pressure (Nad UESP), UES intrabolus pressure (UES IBP), and UES resistance. The SRI was derived using the formula SRI = (FI * PNadImp)/(PeakP * (TNadImp-PeakP + 1)) * 100. A total of 173 liquid, 44 semisolid, and 33 solid boluses were analysed. The SRI was elevated in relation to aspiration. PeakP increased with volume. SRI was not significantly altered by bolus volume. PNadImp, UES IBP, and UES resistance increased with viscosity. SRI was lower with increased viscosity. In patients with dysphagia, the SRI is elevated in relation to aspiration, reduced by bolus viscosity, and not affected by bolus volume. These data provide evidence that pharyngeal AIM analysis may have clinical utility for assessing deglutitive aspiration risk to liquid boluses.

  18. Assessment of lamb carcass composition from live animal measurement of bioelectrical impedance or ultrasonic tissue depths.

    PubMed

    Berg, E P; Neary, M K; Forrest, J C; Thomas, D L; Kauffman, R G

    1996-11-01

    Market weight lambs, average weight 52.5 kg (+/-6.1), were used to evaluate nontraditional live animal measurements as predictors of carcass composition. The sample population (n = 106) represented U.S. market lambs and transcended geographic location, breed, carcass weight, yield grade, and production system. Realtime ultrasonic (RU) measurements and bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) were used for development and evaluation of prediction equations for % boneless, closely trimmed primal cuts (BCTPC), weight or % of dissected lean tissue (TDL), and chemically derived weight or % fat-free lean (FFL). Longitudinal ultrasonic images were obtained parallel to the longissimus thoracis et lumborum (LTL), positioning the last costae in the center of the transducer head. Images were saved and fat and LTL depths were derived from printed images of the ultrasonic scans. Bioelectrical impedance analysis was administered via a four-terminal impedance plethysmograph operating at 800 microA at 50 kHz. Impedance measurements of whole-body resistance and reactance were recorded. Prediction equations including common linear measurements of live weight, heart girth, hindsaddle length, and shoulder height were also evaluated. All measurements were taken just before slaughter. Bioelectrical impedance measurements (as compared to RU and linear measurements) provided equations for %BCTPC, TDL, %TDL, FFL and %FFL with the highest R2 and lowest root mean square error. Even though BIA provided the best equations of the three methodologies tested, prediction of proportional yield (%BCTPC, %TDL, and %FFL) was marginal (R2 = .296, .551, and .551, respectively). Equations combining BIA, RU, and linear measurements greatly improved equations for prediction of proportional lean yield.

  19. Factors that Predict Quality Classroom Technology Use

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Hastings, Tricia A.

    2009-01-01

    Despite technological advancements intended to enhance teaching and learning in the 21st century, numerous teacher and school factors continue to impede quality classroom technology use. Determining the effectiveness of educational technology is challenging and requires a detailed understanding of multifaceted, complex, contextual relationships.…

  20. A high resolution radiation hybrid map of wheat chromosome 4A

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    Bread wheat has a large and complex allohexaploid genome with low recombination level at chromosome centromeric and peri-centromeric regions. This significantly hampers ordering of markers, contigs of physical maps and sequence scaffolds and impedes obtaining of high-quality reference genome sequenc...

  1. Influence of temperature on AC conductivity of nanocrystalline CuAlO2

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Prakash, T.

    2012-07-01

    Nanocrystalline CuAlO2 was synthesized by mechanical alloying of Cu2O and α-Al2O3 powders in the molar ratio of 1:1 for 20 h in toluene medium with tungsten carbide balls and vials using planetary ball mill. The ball milling was carried out at 300 rpm with a ball to powder weight ratio of 10:1 and then annealed at 1373 K in a platinum crucible for 20 h to get CuAlO2 phase with average crystallite size 45 nm. Complex impedance spectroscopic measurement in the frequency region 1 Hz to 10 MHz between the temperatures 333 to 473 K was carried out for nanocrystalline CuAlO2 sample. The obtained complex impedance data was analyzed for AC conductivities, DC and AC conductivities correlations and crossover frequencies ( f co ). The BNN (Barton, Nakajima and Namikawa) relation was applied to understand the correlation between DC and AC conductivities. The observed experimental results were discussed in the paper.

  2. Analysis of asymmetric property with DC bias current on thin-film magnetoimpedance element

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kikuchi, Hiroaki; Sumida, Chihiro

    2018-05-01

    We theoretically analyzed the magnetoimpedance profile of a thin-film element with a DC bias current using the bias susceptibility theory and Maxwell's equations. Although the analysis model predicts that an element with a rectangular cross section shows symmetric impedance property with respect to the Z-axis with DC bias current, the experimental results showed asymmetric properties. Taking the shape imbalance and trapezoidal cross section of the element into account, we explained the asymmetric impedance properties qualitatively.

  3. Effect of Cu-doping on structural and electrical properties of Ni0.4-xCu0.3+xMg0.3Fe2O4 ferrites prepared using sol-gel method

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Dhaou, Mohamed Houcine

    2018-06-01

    Ni0.4-xCu0.3+xMg0.3Fe2O4 spinel ferrites were prepared by sol-gel technique. X-ray diffraction results indicate that ferrite samples have a cubic spinel-type structure with ? space group. The electrical properties of the studied samples using complex impedance spectroscopy technique have been investigated as a function of frequency at different temperatures. We found that the addition of copper in Ni0.4-xCu0.3+xMg0.3Fe2O4 ferrite system can improve its conductivity. Dielectric properties have been discussed in terms of hopping of charge carriers between Fe2+ and Fe3+ ions. For all samples, frequency dependence of the imaginary part of impedance (Z") shows the existence of relaxation phenomenon. The appropriate equivalent circuit configuration for modeling the Nyquist plots of impedance is of the type of (Rg + Rgb//Cgb).

  4. Multifrequency impedance measurement technique for wireless characterization of microbiological cell cultures

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wissenwasser, J.; Vellekoop, M. J.; Kapferer, W.; Lepperdinger, G.; Heer, R.

    2011-11-01

    An impedance measurement system with probe signal frequencies up to 50 kHz with AC-probe voltages below 30 mV rms was integrated for wireless and battery-free monitoring of microbiological cell cultures. The here presented modular design and the use of state-of-the-art components greatly eases adoptions to a wide range of biotechnological applications without the need of bulky LCR-meters or potentiostats. The device had a power consumption of less than 2.5 mA at a 3.3 V single power supply and worked trouble-free within the humid environment of a cell culture incubator. Measurements on lumped RC-elements showed an error of less than 1% for absolute values and less than 1° regarding the phase of the complex impedance. The performance of sensor devices with interdigitated electrode structures for the measurement of adherent cell cultures was tested in the presence of phosphate-buffered saline solution in the humid atmosphere of an incubator for biological cell cultures.

  5. Characteristic impedance of a microchannel with two immiscible microfluids

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Jaramillo Raquejo, Daniela

    2014-05-01

    Consider the case of a microcapillary of radius R with two microfluidic immiscible. The micro-capillary region 0 < r < R1 is occupied by the microfluidic less dense and less viscous; while the microcapillary region R1 <0 < R is occupied by the microfluidic more dense and more viscous. Determine the characteristic impedance of the microcapillary in this case when both microfluidics are driven by the same pressure gradient as the boundary condition at the wall of the microcapillary is of the non-Newtonian slip. The Navier Stokes equation is solved for both microfluidic methods using the Laplace transform. The velocity profiles are expressed in terms of Bessel functions. Similarly, the characteristic impedance of the microcapillary is expressed by a complex formula Bessel functions. Obtain the analytical results are important for designing engineering microdevices with applications in pharmaceutical, food engineering, nanotechnology and biotechnology in general in particular. For future research it is interesting to consider the case of boundary conditions with memory effects.

  6. New power sharing control for inverter-dominated microgrid based on impedance match concept.

    PubMed

    Gu, Herong; Wang, Deyu; Shen, Hong; Zhao, Wei; Guo, Xiaoqiang

    2013-01-01

    Power flow control is one of the most important issues for operating the inverter-dominated autonomous microgrid. A technical challenge is how to achieve the accurate active/reactive power sharing of inverters. P-F and Q-V droop control schemes have been widely used for power sharing in the past decades. But they suffer from the poor power sharing in the presence of unequal line impedance. In order to solve the problem, a comprehensive analysis of the power droop control is presented, and a new droop control based on the impedance match concept is proposed in this paper. In addition, the design guidelines of control coefficients and virtual impedance are provided. Finally, the performance evaluation is carried out, and the evaluation results verify the effectiveness of the proposed method.

  7. Toxicity of graphene nanoflakes evaluated by cell-based electrochemical impedance biosensing.

    PubMed

    Yoon, Ok Ja; Kim, Insu; Sohn, Il Yung; Kieu, Truong Thuy; Lee, Nae-Eung

    2014-07-01

    Graphene nanoflake toxicity was analyzed using cell-based electrochemical impedance biosensing with interdigitated indium tin oxide (ITO) electrodes installed in a custom-built mini-incubator positioned on an inverted optical microscope. Sensing with electrochemical measurements from interdigitated ITO electrodes was highly linear (R(2) = 0.93 and 0.96 for anodic peak current (Ipa) and cathodic peak current (Ipc), respectively). Size-dependent analysis of Graphene nanoflake toxicity was carried out in a mini-incubator system with cultured HeLa cells treated with Graphene nanoflakes having an average size of 80 or 30 nm for one day. Biological assays of cell proliferation and viability complemented electrochemical impedance measurements. The increased toxicity of smaller Graphene nanoflakes (30 nm) as measured by electrochemical impedance sensing and optical monitoring of treated cells was consistent with the biological assay results. Cell-based electrochemical impedance biosensing can be used to assess the toxicity of nanomaterials with different biomedical and environmental applications. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  8. On the use of The Bio-Impedance technique for Body Composition Measurements

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Huerta-Franco, R.; Vargas-Luna, M.; González-Solís, J. L.; Gutiérrez-Juárez, G.

    2003-09-01

    Reviewing the methods and physical principles used in body composition measurements (BCM), it is evident that more accurate, reliable, and easily handled methods are required. The use of bio-impedance analysis (BIA) has been very useful in BCM. This technique, in the single frequency mode, has some commercial versions to perform BCM. However these apparatus have significant variability in the BCM values. The multi-frequency option of the bio-impedance technique has still a lot of challenges to overcome. We studied the variability of the body impedance spectrum (from 1 Hz to 1 MHz) in a group of subjects compared to the values obtained from commercial apparatus. We compared different anatomical body regions, some of them with less subcutaneous body fat (frontal, anterior tibial, knee, and frontal regions); others with more subcutaneous body fat (pectoral, abdominal, and internal calf regions). In order to model the bio-impedance spectrum, we analyzed layered samples with different thickness and material composition.

  9. The development of the miniaturized waveform receiver with the function measuring Antenna Impedance in space plasmas

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ishii, H.; Kojima, H.; Fukuhara, H.; Okada, S.; Yamakawa, H.

    2012-04-01

    Plasma wave is one of the most essential physical quantities in the solar terrestrial physics. The role of plasma wave receiver onboard satellites is to detect plasma waves in space with a good signal to noise ratio. There are two types of plasma wave receivers, the sweep frequency analyzer and the waveform capture. While the sweep frequency analyzer provides plasma wave spectra, the waveform capture obtains waveforms with phase information that is significant in studying nonlinear phenomena. Antenna sensors to observe electric fields of the plasma waves show different features in plasmas from in vacuum. The antenna impedances have specific characteristics in the frequency domain because of the dispersion of plasmas. These antenna impedances are expressed with complex number. We need to know not only the antenna impedances but also the transfer functions of plasma wave receiver's circuits in order to calibrate observed waveforms precisely. The impedances of the electric field antennas are affected by a state of surrounding plasmas. Since satellites run through various regions with different plasma parameters, we precisely should measure the antenna impedances onboard spacecraft. On the contrary, we can obtain the plasma density and by measuring the antenna impedances. Several formulas of the antenna impedance measurement system were proposed. A synchronous detection method is used on the BepiColombo Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter (MMO), which will be launched in 2014. The digital data are stored in the onboard memory. They are read out and converted to the analog waveforms by D/A converter. They are fed into the input of the preamplifiers of antenna sensors through a resistor. We can calculate a transfer function of the circuit by applying the synchronous detection method to the output waveform from waveform receivers and digital data as a signal source. The size of this system is same as an A5 board. In recent years, Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) is in attention which is a technique to integrate large scale and complicated circuits. Lots of ASICs have been applied to high energy astrophysics. In this paper, we show our attempt to miniaturize the antennas impedances measurement system and Waveform Capture using the analogue ASIC. We design 8bits segment D/A converter that is implemented inside the waveform receiver ASIC chip. We improve input logic of the D/A converter to generate very weak signals accurately. The designed chip realizes the measurement of the antenna impedance as well as the waveform observation in the board size of business cards.

  10. Investigation of piezoelectric impedance-based health monitoring of structure interface debonding

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Xiao, Li; Chen, Guofeng; Chen, Xiaoming; Qu, Wenzhong

    2016-04-01

    Various damages might occur during the solid rocket motor (SRM) manufacturing/operational phase, and the debonding of propellant/insulator/composite case interfaces is one of damage types which determine the life of a motor. The detection of such interface debonding damage will be beneficial for developing techniques for reliable nondestructive evaluation (NDE) and structural health monitoring (SHM). Piezoelectric sensors are widely used for structural health monitoring technique. In particular, electromechanical impedance (EMI) techniques give simple and low-cost solutions for detecting damage in various structures. In this work, piezoelectric EMI structural health monitoring technique is applied to identify the debonding condition of propellant/insulator interface structure using finite element method and experimental investigation. A three-dimensional coupled field finite element model is developed using the software ANSYS and the harmonic analysis is conducted for high-frequency impedance analysis procedure. In the experimental study, the impedance signals were measured from PZT and MFC sensors outside attached to composite case monitoring the different debonding conditions between the propellant and insulator. Root mean square deviation (RMSD) based damage index is conducted to quantify the changes i n impedance for different de bonding conditions and frequency range. Simulation and experimental results confirmed that the EMI technique can be used effectively for detecting the debonding damage in SRM and is expected to be useful for future application of real SRM's SHM.

  11. [Activities of the Department of Electrical Engineering, Howard University

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Yalamanchili, Raj C.

    1997-01-01

    Theoretical derivations, computer analysis and test data are provided to demonstrate that the cavity model is a feasible one to analyze thin-substrate, rectangular-patch microstrip antennas. Seven separate antennas were tested. Most of the antennas were designed to resonate at L-band frequencies (1-2 GHz). One antenna was designed to resonate at an S-band (2-4 GHz) frequency of 2.025 GHz. All dielectric substrates were made of Duroid, and were of varying thicknesses and relative dielectric constant values. Theoretical derivations to calculate radiated free space electromagnetic fields and antenna input impedance were performed. MATHEMATICA 2.2 software was used to generate Smith Chart input impedance plots, normalized relative power radiation plots and to perform other numerical manipulations. Network Analyzer tests were used to verify the data from the computer programming (such as input impedance and VSWR). Finally, tests were performed in an anechoic chamber to measure receive-mode polar power patterns in the E and H planes. Agreement between computer analysis and test data is presented. The antenna with the thickest substrate (e(sub r) = 2.33,62 mils thick) showed the worst match to theoretical impedance data. This is anticipated due to the fact that the cavity model generally loses accuracy when the dielectric substrate thickness exceeds 5% of the antenna's free space wavelength. A method of reducing computer execution time for impedance calculations is also presented.

  12. The Promise of Multi-Omics and Clinical Data Integration to Identify and Target Personalized Healthcare Approaches in Autism Spectrum Disorders

    PubMed Central

    Higdon, Roger; Earl, Rachel K.; Stanberry, Larissa; Hudac, Caitlin M.; Montague, Elizabeth; Stewart, Elizabeth; Janko, Imre; Choiniere, John; Broomall, William; Kolker, Natali

    2015-01-01

    Abstract Complex diseases are caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors, creating a difficult challenge for diagnosis and defining subtypes. This review article describes how distinct disease subtypes can be identified through integration and analysis of clinical and multi-omics data. A broad shift toward molecular subtyping of disease using genetic and omics data has yielded successful results in cancer and other complex diseases. To determine molecular subtypes, patients are first classified by applying clustering methods to different types of omics data, then these results are integrated with clinical data to characterize distinct disease subtypes. An example of this molecular-data-first approach is in research on Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), a spectrum of social communication disorders marked by tremendous etiological and phenotypic heterogeneity. In the case of ASD, omics data such as exome sequences and gene and protein expression data are combined with clinical data such as psychometric testing and imaging to enable subtype identification. Novel ASD subtypes have been proposed, such as CHD8, using this molecular subtyping approach. Broader use of molecular subtyping in complex disease research is impeded by data heterogeneity, diversity of standards, and ineffective analysis tools. The future of molecular subtyping for ASD and other complex diseases calls for an integrated resource to identify disease mechanisms, classify new patients, and inform effective treatment options. This in turn will empower and accelerate precision medicine and personalized healthcare. PMID:25831060

  13. Chromaticity effects on head-tail instabilities for broadband impedance using two particle model, Vlasov analysis, and simulations

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Chin, Yong Ho; Chao, Alexander Wu; Blaskiewicz, Michael M.

    Effects of the chromaticity on head-tail instabilities for broadband impedances are comprehensively studied, using the two particle model, the Vlasov analysis and computer simulations. We show both in the two particle model and the Vlasov analysis with the trapezoidal (semiconstant) wake model that we can derive universal contour plots for the growth factor as a function of the two dimensionless parameters: the wakefield strength, Υ, and the difference of the betatron phase advances between the head and the tail, χ. They reveal how the chromaticity affects strong head-tail instabilities and excites head-tail instabilities. We also apply the LEP (Large Electron-Positronmore » Collider) broadband resonator model to the Vlasov approach and find that the results are in very good agreement with those of the trapezoidal wake model. The theoretical findings are also reinforced by the simulation results. In conclusion, the trapezoidal wake model turns out to be a very useful tool since it significantly simplifies the time domain analysis and provides well-behaved impedance at the same time.« less

  14. Chromaticity effects on head-tail instabilities for broadband impedance using two particle model, Vlasov analysis, and simulations

    DOE PAGES

    Chin, Yong Ho; Chao, Alexander Wu; Blaskiewicz, Michael M.; ...

    2017-07-28

    Effects of the chromaticity on head-tail instabilities for broadband impedances are comprehensively studied, using the two particle model, the Vlasov analysis and computer simulations. We show both in the two particle model and the Vlasov analysis with the trapezoidal (semiconstant) wake model that we can derive universal contour plots for the growth factor as a function of the two dimensionless parameters: the wakefield strength, Υ, and the difference of the betatron phase advances between the head and the tail, χ. They reveal how the chromaticity affects strong head-tail instabilities and excites head-tail instabilities. We also apply the LEP (Large Electron-Positronmore » Collider) broadband resonator model to the Vlasov approach and find that the results are in very good agreement with those of the trapezoidal wake model. The theoretical findings are also reinforced by the simulation results. In conclusion, the trapezoidal wake model turns out to be a very useful tool since it significantly simplifies the time domain analysis and provides well-behaved impedance at the same time.« less

  15. Qualitative human body composition analysis assessed with bioelectrical impedance.

    PubMed

    Talluri, T

    1998-12-01

    Body composition is generally aiming at quantitative estimates of fat mass, inadequate to assess nutritional states that on the other hand are well defined by the intra/extra cellular masses proportion (ECM/BCM). Direct measures performed with phase sensitive bioelectrical impedance analyzers can be used to define the current distribution in normal and abnormal populations. Phase angle and reactance nomogram is directly reflecting the ECM/BCM pathways proportions and body impedance analysis (BIA) is also validated to estimate the individual content of body cell mass (BCM). A new body cell mass index (BCMI) obtained dividing the weight of BCM in kilograms by the body surface in square meters is confronted to the scatterplot distribution of phase angle and reactance values obtained from controls and patients, and proposed as a qualitative approach to identify abnormal ECM/BCM ratios and nutritional states.

  16. The Performance of Dammar-based Paint System Evaluated by Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) and Potential Time Measurement (PTM)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Omar, N. M.; Ahmad, A. Hanom

    2009-06-01

    The coating resistance of the Dammar-based paint system was determined by using Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS), whereas, the corrosion potential analysis was determined by using potential time measurement (PTM) method. Carotenoid pigment obtained from Capsicum Annum (dried chili pepper) was added into the mixture of dammar and acrylic polyol resin and the paint systems were proofed on Aluminium steel Q-panels as a substrate. Result shows that the paint system with a composition of 35% dammar (CD35%) possessed the higher corrosion resistance after 30 days of exposure in 3% NaCl solution for electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and also can withstand the longest time for delimitation protection in PTM analysis. The results prove that the developed organic paint system can improve the electrochemical and corrosion protection properties of a paint system.

  17. Dielectric and impedance studies of Ba0.50(Na0.25Bi0.25)(Fe0.25Nb0.25)Ti0.50O3 ceramic

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Yadav, Anjana; Chandra, K. P.; Kulkarni, A. R.; Prasad, K.

    2018-05-01

    Lead-free perovskite Ba0.50(Na0.25Bi0.25)(Fe0.25Nb0.25)Ti0.50O3 was prepared using conventional ceramic technique at 1130°C/4h in air atmosphere and characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, dielectric and impedance studies. XRD analysis of the compound indicated the formation of a single-phase cubic structure. SEM study was carried out to study the quality and purity of the compound. Compound showed very high dielectric constant (33700). Impedance analysis indicated the negative temperature coefficient of resistance character of the compound. Ac conductivity data followed Jonscher's law and correlated barrier hopping successfully explained the charge carrier transport mechanism in the system.

  18. Analysis of the electromagnetic scattering from an inlet geometry with lossy walls

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Myung, N. H.; Pathak, P. H.; Chunang, C. D.

    1985-01-01

    One of the primary goals is to develop an approximate but sufficiently accurate analysis for the problem of electromagnetic (EM) plane wave scattering by an open ended, perfectly-conducting, semi-infinite hollow circular waveguide (or duct) with a thin, uniform layer of lossy or absorbing material on its inner wall, and with a simple termination inside. The less difficult but useful problem of the EM scattering by a two-dimensional (2-D), semi-infinite parallel plate waveguide with an impedance boundary condition on the inner walls was chosen initially for analysis. The impedance boundary condition in this problem serves to model a thin layer of lossy dielectric/ferrite coating on the otherwise perfectly-conducting interior waveguide walls. An approximate but efficient and accurate ray solution was obtained recently. That solution is presently being extended to the case of a moderately thick dielectric/ferrite coating on the walls so as to be valid for situations where the impedance boundary condition may not remain sufficiently accurate.

  19. Impedance analysis of cultured cells: a mean-field electrical response model for electric cell-substrate impedance sensing technique.

    PubMed

    Urdapilleta, E; Bellotti, M; Bonetto, F J

    2006-10-01

    In this paper we present a model to describe the electrical properties of a confluent cell monolayer cultured on gold microelectrodes to be used with electric cell-substrate impedance sensing technique. This model was developed from microscopic considerations (distributed effects), and by assuming that the monolayer is an element with mean electrical characteristics (specific lumped parameters). No assumptions were made about cell morphology. The model has only three adjustable parameters. This model and other models currently used for data analysis are compared with data we obtained from electrical measurements of confluent monolayers of Madin-Darby Canine Kidney cells. One important parameter is the cell-substrate height and we found that estimates of this magnitude strongly differ depending on the model used for the analysis. We analyze the origin of the discrepancies, concluding that the estimates from the different models can be considered as limits for the true value of the cell-substrate height.

  20. Application of EIS and SECM Studies for Investigation of Anticorrosion Properties of Epoxy Coatings Containing Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles on Mild Steel in 3.5% NaCl Solution

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Raj, X. Joseph

    2017-07-01

    The effect of corrosion protection performance of epoxy coatings containing ZnO nanoparticle on mild steel in 3.5% NaCl solution was analyzed using scanning electrochemical microscopy and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Line profile and topographic image analysis were measured by applying -0.70 and +0.60 V as the tip potential for the cathodic and anodic reactions, respectively. The tip current at -0.70 V for the epoxy-coated sample with ZnO nanoparticles decreased rapidly, which is due to cathodic reduction in dissolved oxygen. The EIS measurements were taken in 3.5% NaCl after wet and dry cyclic corrosion test. The increase in the film resistance ( R f) and charge transfer resistance ( R ct) values was confirmed by the addition of ZnO nanoparticles in the epoxy coating. SEM/EDX analysis showed that complex oxide layer of zinc was enriched in corrosion products at a scratched area of the coated steel after corrosion testing. FIB-TEM analysis confirmed the presence of the nanoscale complex oxide layer of Zn in the rust of the steel that had a beneficial effect on the corrosion resistance of coated steel by forming protective corrosion products in the wet/dry cyclic test.

  1. Aircraft panel with sensorless active sound power reduction capabilities through virtual mechanical impedances

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Boulandet, R.; Michau, M.; Micheau, P.; Berry, A.

    2016-01-01

    This paper deals with an active structural acoustic control approach to reduce the transmission of tonal noise in aircraft cabins. The focus is on the practical implementation of the virtual mechanical impedances method by using sensoriactuators instead of conventional control units composed of separate sensors and actuators. The experimental setup includes two sensoriactuators developed from the electrodynamic inertial exciter and distributed over an aircraft trim panel which is subject to a time-harmonic diffuse sound field. The target mechanical impedances are first defined by solving a linear optimization problem from sound power measurements before being applied to the test panel using a complex envelope controller. Measured data are compared to results obtained with sensor-actuator pairs consisting of an accelerometer and an inertial exciter, particularly as regards sound power reduction. It is shown that the two types of control unit provide similar performance, and that here virtual impedance control stands apart from conventional active damping. In particular, it is clear from this study that extra vibrational energy must be provided by the actuators for optimal sound power reduction, mainly due to the high structural damping in the aircraft trim panel. Concluding remarks on the benefits of using these electrodynamic sensoriactuators to control tonal disturbances are also provided.

  2. Evaluation of Novel Liner Concepts for Fan and Airframe Noise Reduction

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Jones, M. G.; Howerton, B. M.

    2016-01-01

    This paper presents a review of four novel liner concepts: soft vanes, over-the-rotor liners, external liners, and flap side-edge liners. A number of similarities in the design and evaluation of these concepts emerged during these investigations. Since these were the first attempts to study these particular liner concepts, there was limited information to guide the design process. In all cases, the target frequencies (or frequency range) were known, but the optimum acoustic impedance and optimum liner placement were typically not known. For these cases, the maximum available surface was used and a c-impedance was targeted based on the assumption the sound field impinges on the surface at normal incidence. This choice proved fruitful for every application. An impedance prediction model was used to design variable-depth liner configurations, and a graphical design code (ILIAD) was developed to aid in this process. The ability to build increasingly complex liner configurations via additive manufacturing was key, such that multiple designs could quickly be tested in a normal incidence impedance tube. The Two-Thickness Method was used to evaluate available bulk materials, such that bulk liners could also be considered for each application. These novel liner concepts provide sufficient noise reduction to warrant further investigations.

  3. Transition operators in acoustic-wave diffraction theory. I - General theory. II - Short-wavelength behavior, dominant singularities of Zk0 and Zk0 exp -1

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Hahne, G. E.

    1991-01-01

    A formal theory of the scattering of time-harmonic acoustic scalar waves from impenetrable, immobile obstacles is established. The time-independent formal scattering theory of nonrelativistic quantum mechanics, in particular the theory of the complete Green's function and the transition (T) operator, provides the model. The quantum-mechanical approach is modified to allow the treatment of acoustic-wave scattering with imposed boundary conditions of impedance type on the surface (delta-Omega) of an impenetrable obstacle. With k0 as the free-space wavenumber of the signal, a simplified expression is obtained for the k0-dependent T operator for a general case of homogeneous impedance boundary conditions for the acoustic wave on delta-Omega. All the nonelementary operators entering the expression for the T operator are formally simple rational algebraic functions of a certain invertible linear radiation impedance operator which maps any sufficiently well-behaved complex-valued function on delta-Omega into another such function on delta-Omega. In the subsequent study, the short-wavelength and the long-wavelength behavior of the radiation impedance operator and its inverse (the 'radiation admittance' operator) as two-point kernels on a smooth delta-Omega are studied for pairs of points that are close together.

  4. A LabVIEW model incorporating an open-loop arterial impedance and a closed-loop circulatory system.

    PubMed

    Cole, R T; Lucas, C L; Cascio, W E; Johnson, T A

    2005-11-01

    While numerous computer models exist for the circulatory system, many are limited in scope, contain unwanted features or incorporate complex components specific to unique experimental situations. Our purpose was to develop a basic, yet multifaceted, computer model of the left heart and systemic circulation in LabVIEW having universal appeal without sacrificing crucial physiologic features. The program we developed employs Windkessel-type impedance models in several open-loop configurations and a closed-loop model coupling a lumped impedance and ventricular pressure source. The open-loop impedance models demonstrate afterload effects on arbitrary aortic pressure/flow inputs. The closed-loop model catalogs the major circulatory waveforms with changes in afterload, preload, and left heart properties. Our model provides an avenue for expanding the use of the ventricular equations through closed-loop coupling that includes a basic coronary circuit. Tested values used for the afterload components and the effects of afterload parameter changes on various waveforms are consistent with published data. We conclude that this model offers the ability to alter several circulatory factors and digitally catalog the most salient features of the pressure/flow waveforms employing a user-friendly platform. These features make the model a useful instructional tool for students as well as a simple experimental tool for cardiovascular research.

  5. Direct correlation between potentiometric and impedance biosensing of antibody-antigen interactions using an integrated system

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Tsai, Meng-Yen; Creedon, Niamh; Brightbill, Eleanor; Pavlidis, Spyridon; Brown, Billyde; Gray, Darren W.; Shields, Niall; Sayers, Ríona; Mooney, Mark H.; O'Riordan, Alan; Vogel, Eric M.

    2017-08-01

    A fully integrated system that combines extended gate field-effect transistor (EGFET)-based potentiometric biosensors and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS)-based biosensors has been demonstrated. This integrated configuration enables the sequential measurement of the same immunological binding event on the same sensing surface and consequently sheds light on the fundamental origins of sensing signals produced by FET and EIS biosensors, as well as the correlation between the two. Detection of both the bovine serum albumin (BSA)/anti-BSA model system in buffer solution and bovine parainfluenza antibodies in complex blood plasma samples was demonstrated using the integrated biosensors. Comparison of the EGFET and EIS sensor responses reveals similar dynamic ranges, while equivalent circuit modeling of the EIS response shows that the commonly reported total impedance change (ΔZtotal) is dominated by the change in charge transfer resistance (Rct) rather than surface capacitance (Csurface). Using electrochemical kinetics and the Butler-Volmer equation, we unveil that the surface potential and charge transfer resistance, measured by potentiometric and impedance biosensors, respectively, are, in fact, intrinsically linked. This observation suggests that there is no significant gain in using the FET/EIS integrated system and leads to the demonstration that low-cost EGFET biosensors are sufficient as a detection tool to resolve the charge information of biomolecules for practical sensing applications.

  6. The diagnostic value of 24-hour ambulatory intraesophageal pH-impedance in patients with laryngopharyngeal reflux symptoms comparable with typical symptoms.

    PubMed

    Sakin, Yusuf S; Vardar, Rukiye; Sezgin, Baha; Cetin, Zeynep Erdogan; Alev, Yasemin; Yildirim, Esra; Kirazli, Tayfun; Bor, Serhat

    2017-08-01

    The diagnosis of laryngopharyngeal reflux is currently based on a combination of the patient history of multichannel intraluminal impedance and ambulatory pH (MII-pH); however, none of these findings alone is specific for the diagnosis of laryngopharyngeal reflux. We aimed to compare the baseline characteristics and esophageal baseline impedance values between patients with and without laryngopharyngeal reflux symptoms. We retrospectively analyzed data from two groups of patients with laryngopharyngeal reflux according to their reflux finding score (RFS) as scored by ENTs. Control patients were nonerosive reflux disease patients without laryngopharyngeal reflux. All MII-pH parameters and baseline impedance were analyzed from six levels and the proximal and distal baseline impedance and the ratio of the proximal to distal baseline impedance levels was calculated. Altogether 123 patients with laryngopharyngeal reflux and 49 control patients were included. A total of 81 of 123 patients had RFS ≥ 7, and 42 of 123 patients had RFS < 7. Baseline impedance analysis showed that patients with laryngopharyngeal reflux symptoms had significantly lower proximal baseline impedance values (1997 ± 51 vs 2245 ± 109, p  < 0.05) than the control group. Additionally, patients with laryngopharyngeal reflux symptoms had a significantly lower proximal-to-distal ratio (1.28 ± 0.05 vs 1.53 ± 0.09, p  < 0.05). In the subgroup analysis, patients with RFS < 7 were found to have a significantly lower acid exposure time than either the patients with RFS ≥ 7 (3.85 ± 0.65 vs 8.2 ± 1.52, p  < 0.05) or the control group (3.85 ± 0.65 vs 6.1 ± 0.81, p  < 0.05). Additionally, patients with RFS ≥ 7 had significantly lower proximal baseline impedance levels than the control group (1970 ± 63 vs 2245 ± 109, p  < 0.05). Patients with pathologic laryngopharyngeal reflux symptom scores had lower proximal baseline impedance levels and lower proximal-to-distal ratios, which may reflect the proximal mucosal noxious effect of the refluxate. These results may indicate that laryngopharyngeal reflux symptoms may be due to chronic acid exposure in the proximal segments of the esophagus, and the proximal-to-distal ratio may be used as a new metric for diagnosis.

  7. Tunable impedance matching network fundamental limits and practical considerations

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Allen, Wesley N.

    As wireless devices continue to increase in utility while decreasing in dimension, design of the RF front-end becomes more complex. It is common for a single handheld device to operate on a plethora of frequency bands, utilize multiple antennae, and be subjected to a variety of environments. One complexity in particular which arises from these factors is that of impedance mismatch. Recently, tunable impedance matching networks have begun to be implemented to address this problem. This dissertation presents the first in-depth study on the frequency tuning range of tunable impedance matching networks. Both the fundamental limitations of ideal networks as well as practical considerations for design and implementation are addressed. Specifically, distributed matching networks with a single tuning element are investigated for use with parallel resistor-capacitor and series resistor-inductor loads. Analytical formulas are developed to directly calculate the frequency tuning range TR of ideal topologies. The theoretical limit of TR for these topologies is presented and discussed. Additional formulas are developed which address limitations in transmission line characteristic impedance and varactor range. Equations to predict loss due to varactor quality factor are demonstrated and the ability of parasitics to both increase and decrease TR are shown. Measured results exemplify i) the potential to develop matching networks with a small impact from parasitics, ii) the need for accurate knowledge of parasitics when designing near transition points in optimal parameters, iii) the importance of using a transmission line with the right characteristic impedance, and iv) the ability to achieve extremely low loss at the design frequency with a lossy varactor under the right conditions (measured loss of -0.07 dB). In the area of application, tunable matching networks are designed and measured for mobile handset antennas, demonstrating up to a 3 dB improvement in power delivered to a planar inverted-F antenna and up to 4--5.6 dB improvement in power delivered to the iPhone(TM) antenna. Additionally, a single-varactor matching network is measured to achieve greater tuning range than a two-varactor matching network (> 824--960 MHz versus 850--915 MHz) and yield higher power handling. Addressing miniaturization, an accurate model of metal loss in planar integrated inductors for low-loss substrates is developed and demonstrated. Finally, immediate future research directions are suggested: i) expanding the topologies, tuning elements, and loads analyzed; ii) performing a deep study into parasitics; and iii) investigating power handling with various varactor technologies.

  8. Electrical impedance tomography spectroscopy method for characterising particles in solid-liquid phase

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Zhao, Yanlin; Wang, Mi; Yao, Jun

    2014-04-11

    Electrical impedance tomography (EIT) is one of the process tomography techniques to provide an on-line non-invasive imaging for multiphase flow measurement. With EIT measurements, the images of impedance real part, impedance imaginary part, phase angle, and magnitude can be obtained. However, most of the applications of EIT in the process industries rely on the conductivity difference between two phases in fluids to obtain the concentration profiles. It is not common to use the imaginary part or phase angle due to the dominant change in conductivity or complication in the use of other impedance information. In a solid-liquid two phases systemmore » involving nano- or submicro-particles, characterisation of particles (e.g. particle size and concentration) have to rely on the measurement of impedance phase angle or imaginary part. Particles in a solution usually have an electrical double layer associated with their surfaces and can form an induced electrical dipole moment due to the polarization of the electrical double layer under the influence of an alternating electric field. Similar to EIT, electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurement can record the electrical impedance data, including impedance real part, imaginary part and phase angle (θ), which are caused by the polarization of the electrical double layer. These impedance data are related to the particle characteristics e.g. particle size, particle and ionic concentrations in the aqueous medium, therefore EIS method provides a capability for characterising the particles in suspensions. Electrical impedance tomography based on EIS measurement or namely, electrical impedance tomography spectroscopy (EITS) could image the spatial distribution of particle characteristics. In this paper, a new method, including test set-up and data analysis, for characterisation of particles in suspensions are developed through the experimental approach. The experimental results on tomographic imaging of colloidal particles based on EIS measurement using a sensor of 8 electrodes are reported. Results have demonstrated the potential as well as revealed the challenge in the use of EIS and EITS for characterisation of particle in suspension.« less

  9. Practical aspects of NMR signal assignment in larger and challenging proteins

    PubMed Central

    Frueh, Dominique P.

    2014-01-01

    NMR has matured into a technique routinely employed for studying proteins in near physiological conditions. However, applications to larger proteins are impeded by the complexity of the various correlation maps necessary to assign NMR signals. This article reviews the data analysis techniques traditionally employed for resonance assignment and describes alternative protocols necessary for overcoming challenges in large protein spectra. In particular, simultaneous analysis of multiple spectra may help overcome ambiguities or may reveal correlations in an indirect manner. Similarly, visualization of orthogonal planes in a multidimensional spectrum can provide alternative assignment procedures. We describe examples of such strategies for assignment of backbone, methyl, and nOe resonances. We describe experimental aspects of data acquisition for the related experiments and provide guidelines for preliminary studies. Focus is placed on large folded monomeric proteins and examples are provided for 37, 48, 53, and 81 kDa proteins. PMID:24534088

  10. Assessment of drug-induced arrhythmic risk using limit cycle and autocorrelation analysis of human iPSC-cardiomyocyte contractility

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Kirby, R. Jason

    2016-08-15

    Cardiac safety assays incorporating label-free detection of human stem-cell derived cardiomyocyte contractility provide human relevance and medium throughput screening to assess compound-induced cardiotoxicity. In an effort to provide quantitative analysis of the large kinetic datasets resulting from these real-time studies, we applied bioinformatic approaches based on nonlinear dynamical system analysis, including limit cycle analysis and autocorrelation function, to systematically assess beat irregularity. The algorithms were integrated into a software program to seamlessly generate results for 96-well impedance-based data. Our approach was validated by analyzing dose- and time-dependent changes in beat patterns induced by known proarrhythmic compounds and screening a cardiotoxicitymore » library to rank order compounds based on their proarrhythmic potential. We demonstrate a strong correlation for dose-dependent beat irregularity monitored by electrical impedance and quantified by autocorrelation analysis to traditional manual patch clamp potency values for hERG blockers. In addition, our platform identifies non-hERG blockers known to cause clinical arrhythmia. Our method provides a novel suite of medium-throughput quantitative tools for assessing compound effects on cardiac contractility and predicting compounds with potential proarrhythmia and may be applied to in vitro paradigms for pre-clinical cardiac safety evaluation. - Highlights: • Impedance-based monitoring of human iPSC-derived cardiomyocyte contractility • Limit cycle analysis of impedance data identifies aberrant oscillation patterns. • Nonlinear autocorrelation function quantifies beat irregularity. • Identification of hERG and non-hERG inhibitors with known risk of arrhythmia • Automated software processes limit cycle and autocorrelation analyses of 96w data.« less

  11. Bacteriocidal activity of sanitizers against Enterococcus faecium attached to stainless steel as determined by plate count and impedance methods.

    PubMed

    Andrade, N J; Bridgeman, T A; Zottola, E A

    1998-07-01

    Enterococcus faecium attached to stainless steel chips (100 mm2) was treated with the following sanitizers: sodium hypochlorite, peracetic acid (PA), peracetic acid plus an organic acid (PAS), quaternary ammonium, organic acid, and anionic acid. The effectiveness of sanitizer solutions on planktonic cells (not attached) was evaluated by the Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC) suspension test. The number of attached cells was determined by impedance measurement and plate count method after vortexing. The decimal reduction (DR) in numbers of the E. faecium population was determined for the three methods and was analyzed by analysis of variance (P < 0.05) using Statview software. The adhered cells were more resistant (P < 0.05) than nonadherent cells. The DR averages for all of the sanitizers for 30 s of exposure were 6.4, 2.2, and 2.5 for the AOAC suspension test, plate count method after vortexing, and impedance measurement, respectively. Plate count and impedance methods showed a difference (P < 0.05) after 30 s of sanitizer exposure but not after 2 min. The impedance measurement was the best method to measure adherent cells. Impedance measurement required the development of a quadratic regression. The equation developed from 82 samples is as follows: log CFU/chip = 0.2385T2-0.96T + 9.35, r2 = 0.92, P < 0.05, T = impedance detection time in hours. This method showed that the sanitizers PAS and PA were more effective against E. faecium than the other sanitizers. At 30 s, the impedance method recovered about 25 times more cells than the plate count method after vortexing. These data suggest that impedance measurement is the method of choice when evaluating the number of bacterial cells adhered to a surface.

  12. Visceral fat estimation method by bioelectrical impedance analysis and causal analysis

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Nakajima, Hiroshi; Tasaki, Hiroshi; Tsuchiya, Naoki; Hamaguchi, Takehiro; Shiga, Toshikazu

    2011-06-01

    It has been clarified that abdominal visceral fat accumulation is closely associated to the lifestyle disease and metabolic syndrome. The gold standard in medical fields is visceral fat area measured by an X-ray computer tomography (CT) scan or magnetic resonance imaging. However, their measurements are high invasive and high cost; especially a CT scan causes X-ray exposure. They are the reasons why medical fields need an instrument for viscera fat measurement with low invasive, ease of use, and low cost. The article proposes a simple and practical method of visceral fat estimation by employing bioelectrical impedance analysis and causal analysis. In the method, abdominal shape and dual impedances of abdominal surface and body total are measured to estimate a visceral fat area based on the cause-effect structure. The structure is designed according to the nature of abdominal body composition to be fine-tuned by statistical analysis. The experiments were conducted to investigate the proposed model. 180 subjects were hired to be measured by both a CT scan and the proposed method. The acquired model explained the measurement principle well and the correlation coefficient is 0.88 with the CT scan measurements.

  13. Estrone specific molecularly imprinted polymeric nanospheres: synthesis, characterization and applications for electrochemical sensor development.

    PubMed

    Congur, Gulsah; Senay, Hilal; Turkcan, Ceren; Canavar, Ece; Erdem, Arzum; Akgol, Sinan

    2013-06-28

    The aim of this study is (i) to prepare estrone-imprinted nanospheres (nano-EST-MIPs) and (ii) to integrate them into the electrochemical sensor as a recognition layer. N-methacryloyl-(l)-phenylalanine (MAPA) was chosen as the complexing monomer. Firstly, estrone (EST) was complexed with MAPA and the EST-imprinted poly(2-hyroxyethylmethacrylate-co-N-methacryloyl-(l)-phenylalanine) [EST-imprinted poly(HEMA-MAPA)] nanospheres were synthesized by surfactant- free emulsion polymerization method. The specific surface area of the EST-imprinted poly(HEMA-MAPA) nanospheres was found to be 1275 m2/g with a size of 163.2 nm in diameter. According to the elemental analysis results, the nanospheres contained 95.3 mmole MAPA/g nanosphere. The application of EST specific MIP nanospheres for the development of an electrochemical biosensor was introduced for the first time in our study by using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) technique. This nano-MIP based sensor presented a great specificity and selectivity for EST.

  14. Ras-sensitive IMP modulation of the Raf/MEK/ERK cascade through KSR1.

    PubMed

    Matheny, Sharon A; White, Michael A

    2006-01-01

    The E3 ubiquitin ligase IMP (impedes mitogenic signal propagation) was isolated as a novel Ras effector that negatively regulates ERK1/2 activation. Current evidence suggests that IMP limits the functional assembly of Raf/MEK complexes by inactivation of the KSR1 adaptor/scaffold protein. Interaction with Ras-GTP stimulates IMP autoubiquitination to relieve limitations on KSR function. The elevated sensitivity of IMP-depleted cells to ERK1/2 pathway activation suggests IMP acts as a signal threshold regulator by imposing reversible restrictions on the assembly of functional Raf/MEK/ERK kinase modules. These observations challenge commonly held concepts of signal transmission by Ras to the MAPK pathway and provide evidence for the role of amplitude modulation in tuning cellular responses to ERK1/2 pathway engagement. Here we describe details of the methods, including RNA interference, ubiquitin ligase assays, and protein complex analysis, that can be used to display the Ras-sensitive contribution of IMP to KSR-dependent modulation of the Raf/MEK/ERK pathway.

  15. Body composition analysis techniques in adult and pediatric patients: how reliable are they? How useful are they clinically?

    PubMed

    Woodrow, Graham

    2007-06-01

    Complex abnormalities of body composition occur in peritoneal dialysis (PD). These abnormalities reflect changes in hydration, nutrition, and body fat, and they are of major clinical significance. Clinical assessment of these body compartments is insensitive and inaccurate. Frequently, simultaneous changes of hydration, wasting, and body fat content can occur, confounding clinical assessment of each component. Body composition can be described by models of varying complexity that use one or more measurement techniques. "Gold standard" methods provide accurate and precise data, but are not practical for routine clinical use. Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry allows for measurement of regional as well as whole-body composition, which can provide further information of clinical relevance. Simpler techniques such as anthropometry and bioelectrical impedance analysis are suited to routine use in clinic or at the bedside, but may be less accurate. Body composition methodology sometimes makes assumptions regarding relationships between components, particularly in regard to hydration, which may be invalid in pathologic states. Uncritical application of these methods to the PD patient may result in erroneous interpretation of results. Understanding the foundations and limitations of body composition techniques allows for optimal application in clinical practice.

  16. Two-port network analysis and modeling of a balanced armature receiver.

    PubMed

    Kim, Noori; Allen, Jont B

    2013-07-01

    Models for acoustic transducers, such as loudspeakers, mastoid bone-drivers, hearing-aid receivers, etc., are critical elements in many acoustic applications. Acoustic transducers employ two-port models to convert between acoustic and electromagnetic signals. This study analyzes a widely-used commercial hearing-aid receiver ED series, manufactured by Knowles Electronics, Inc. Electromagnetic transducer modeling must consider two key elements: a semi-inductor and a gyrator. The semi-inductor accounts for electromagnetic eddy-currents, the 'skin effect' of a conductor (Vanderkooy, 1989), while the gyrator (McMillan, 1946; Tellegen, 1948) accounts for the anti-reciprocity characteristic [Lenz's law (Hunt, 1954, p. 113)]. Aside from Hunt (1954), no publications we know of have included the gyrator element in their electromagnetic transducer models. The most prevalent method of transducer modeling evokes the mobility method, an ideal transformer instead of a gyrator followed by the dual of the mechanical circuit (Beranek, 1954). The mobility approach greatly complicates the analysis. The present study proposes a novel, simplified and rigorous receiver model. Hunt's two-port parameters, the electrical impedance Ze(s), acoustic impedance Za(s) and electro-acoustic transduction coefficient Ta(s), are calculated using ABCD and impedance matrix methods (Van Valkenburg, 1964). The results from electrical input impedance measurements Zin(s), which vary with given acoustical loads, are used in the calculation (Weece and Allen, 2010). The hearing-aid receiver transducer model is designed based on energy transformation flow [electric→ mechanic→ acoustic]. The model has been verified with electrical input impedance, diaphragm velocity in vacuo, and output pressure measurements. This receiver model is suitable for designing most electromagnetic transducers and it can ultimately improve the design of hearing-aid devices by providing a simplified yet accurate, physically motivated analysis. This article is part of a special issue entitled "MEMRO 2012". Published by Elsevier B.V.

  17. TRANSVERSE ELECTRIC IMPEDANCE OF THE SQUID GIANT AXON

    PubMed Central

    Curtis, Howard J.; Cole, Kenneth S.

    1938-01-01

    The impedance of the excised giant axon from hindmost stellar nerve of Loligo pealii has been measured over the frequency range from 1 to 2500 kilocycles per second. The measurements have been made with the current flow perpendicular to the axis of the axon to permit a relatively simple analysis of the data. It has been found that the axon membrane has a polarization impedance with an average phase angle of 76° and an average capacity of 1.1µf./cm2 at 1 kilocycle. The direct current resistance of the membrane could not be measured, but was greater than 3 ohm cm.2 and the average internal specific resistance was four times that of sea water. There was no detectable change in the membrane impedance when the axon lost excitability, but some time later it decreased to zero. PMID:19873081

  18. New Power Sharing Control for Inverter-Dominated Microgrid Based on Impedance Match Concept

    PubMed Central

    Gu, Herong; Wang, Deyu; Shen, Hong; Zhao, Wei; Guo, Xiaoqiang

    2013-01-01

    Power flow control is one of the most important issues for operating the inverter-dominated autonomous microgrid. A technical challenge is how to achieve the accurate active/reactive power sharing of inverters. P-F and Q-V droop control schemes have been widely used for power sharing in the past decades. But they suffer from the poor power sharing in the presence of unequal line impedance. In order to solve the problem, a comprehensive analysis of the power droop control is presented, and a new droop control based on the impedance match concept is proposed in this paper. In addition, the design guidelines of control coefficients and virtual impedance are provided. Finally, the performance evaluation is carried out, and the evaluation results verify the effectiveness of the proposed method. PMID:24453910

  19. Numerical analysis of acoustic impedance microscope utilizing acoustic lens transducer to examine cultured cells.

    PubMed

    Gunawan, Agus Indra; Hozumi, Naohiro; Takahashi, Kenta; Yoshida, Sachiko; Saijo, Yoshifumi; Kobayashi, Kazuto; Yamamoto, Seiji

    2015-12-01

    A new technique is proposed for non-contact quantitative cell observation using focused ultrasonic waves. This technique interprets acoustic reflection intensity into the characteristic acoustic impedance of the biological cell. The cells are cultured on a plastic film substrate. A focused acoustic beam is transmitted through the substrate to its interface with the cell. A two-dimensional (2-D) reflection intensity profile is obtained by scanning the focal point along the interface. A reference substance is observed under the same conditions. These two reflections are compared and interpreted into the characteristic acoustic impedance of the cell based on a calibration curve that was created prior to the observation. To create the calibration curve, a numerical analysis of the sound field is performed using Fourier Transforms and is verified using several saline solutions. Because the cells are suspended by two plastic films, no contamination is introduced during the observation. In a practical observation, a sapphire lens transducer with a center frequency of 300 MHz was employed using ZnO thin film. The objects studied were co-cultured rat-derived glial (astrocyte) cells and glioma cells. The result was the clear observation of the internal structure of the cells. The acoustic impedance of the cells was spreading between 1.62 and 1.72 MNs/m(3). Cytoskeleton was indicated by high acoustic impedance. The introduction of cytochalasin-B led to a significant reduction in the acoustic impedance of the glioma cells; its effect on the glial cells was less significant. It is believed that this non-contact observation method will be useful for continuous cell inspections. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  20. Detection and evaluation of ventricular repolarization alternans: an approach to combined ECG, thoracic impedance, and beat-to-beat heart rate variability analysis.

    PubMed

    Kriščiukaitis, Algimantas; Šimoliūnienė, Renata; Macas, Andrius; Petrolis, Robertas; Drėgūnas, Kęstutis; Bakšytė, Giedrė; Pieteris, Linas; Bertašienė, Zita; Žaliūnas, Remigijus

    2014-01-01

    Beat-to-beat alteration in ventricles repolarization reflected by alternans of amplitude and/or shape of ECG S-T,T segment (TWA) is known as phenomena related with risk of severe arrhythmias leading to sudden cardiac death. Technical difficulties have caused limited its usage in clinical diagnostics. Possibilities to register and analyze multimodal signals reflecting heart activity inspired search for new technical solutions. First objective of this study was to test whether thoracic impedance signal and beat-to-beat heart rate reflect repolarization alternans detected as TWA. The second objective was revelation of multimodal signal features more comprehensively representing the phenomena and increasing its prognostic usefulness. ECG, and thoracic impedance signal recordings made during 24h follow-up of the patients hospitalized in acute phase of myocardial infarction were used for investigation. Signal morphology variations reflecting estimates were obtained by the principal component analysis-based method. Clinical outcomes of patients (survival and/or rehospitalization in 6 and 12 months) were compared to repolarization alternans and heart rate variability estimates. Repolarization alternans detected as TWA was also reflected in estimates of thoracic impedance signal shape and variation in beat-to-beat heart rate. All these parameters showed correlation with clinical outcomes of patients. The strongest significant correlation showed magnitude of alternans in estimates of thoracic impedance signal shape. The features of ECG, thoracic impedance signal and beat-to-beat variability of heart rate, give comprehensive estimates of repolarization alternans, which correlate, with clinical outcomes of the patients and we recommend using them to improve diagnostic reliability. Copyright © 2014 Lithuanian University of Health Sciences. Production and hosting by Elsevier Urban & Partner Sp. z o.o. All rights reserved.

  1. Improving Reading and Social Studies Learning for Secondary Students with Reading Disabilities

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Capin, Philip; Vaughn, Sharon

    2017-01-01

    Significant numbers of adolescents and young adults do not adequately understand complex texts, impeding their school success, access to postsecondary learning, and opportunities within an increasingly competitive work environment. National data (National Assessment of Educational Progress [NAEP], 2015) have shown improvements among fourth- and…

  2. Linguistic Features of Middle School Environmental Education Texts.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Chenhansa, Suporn; Schleppegrell, Mary

    1998-01-01

    The language used in environmental education texts has linguistic features that affect students' comprehension of concepts and their ability to envision solutions to environmental problems. Findings indicate that features of texts such as abstract nouns and lack of explicit agents impede students' full comprehension of complex issues and obscure…

  3. High Temperature Superconductor/Semiconductor Hybrid Microwave Devices and Circuits

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Romanofsky, Robert R.; Miranda, Felix A.

    1999-01-01

    Contents include following: film deposition technique; laser ablation; magnetron sputtering; sequential evaporation; microwave substrates; film characterization at microwave frequencies; complex conductivity; magnetic penetration depth; surface impedance; planar single-mode filters; small antennas; antenna arrays phase noise; tunable oscillations; hybrid superconductor/semiconductor receiver front ends; and noise modeling.

  4. Time-Lapse 3D Inversion of Complex Conductivity Data Using an Active Time Constrained (ATC) Approach

    EPA Science Inventory

    Induced polarization (more precisely the magnitude and the phase of the impedance of the subsurface) is measured using a network of electrodes located at the ground surface or in boreholes. This method yields important information related to the distribution of permeability and ...

  5. Raman effect, structural and dielectric properties of sol-gel synthesized polycrystalline GaFe{sub 1-x}Zr{sub x}O{sub 3} (0≤x≤0.15)

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Kumar, Rajeev, E-mail: rajeevgiitk@gmail.com; Mall, Ashish Kumar; Gupta, Rajeev

    2016-05-23

    Polycrystalline ceramic samples of Zirconium (Zr)-doped GaFeO{sub 3} (GaFe{sub 1-x}Zr{sub x}O{sub 3}) were studied using powder X-ray diffraction, complex impedance spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopic measurements to understand the effect of Zr doping on the structural and dielectric properties. The samples with varying Zr content were prepared by Sol-Gel method. X-ray data analysis confirmed the formation of single phase material without formation of any secondary phases and all are crystallized in Pc2{sub 1}n orthorhombic symmetry. Rietveld refinement of the X-ray data suggested an increase in the lattice constants due to size effect and decreases on x = 0.15 due to themore » effect of change in interplanner spacing. Impedance studies on the samples showed that the dielectric constant increases while loss tangent decrease as the Zr content increases. Raman scattering on GaFe{sub 1-x}Zr{sub x}O{sub 3} (x = 0, 0.05, 0.10, & 0.15) used to understand the composition dependence on phonon modes at room temperature. On Zr doping, Raman modes frequencies shifts to lower energies consistent with the X-ray data.« less

  6. Investigation of a Parabolic Iterative Solver for Three-dimensional Configurations

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Nark, Douglas M.; Watson, Willie R.; Mani, Ramani

    2007-01-01

    A parabolic iterative solution procedure is investigated that seeks to extend the parabolic approximation used within the internal propagation module of the duct noise propagation and radiation code CDUCT-LaRC. The governing convected Helmholtz equation is split into a set of coupled equations governing propagation in the positive and negative directions. The proposed method utilizes an iterative procedure to solve the coupled equations in an attempt to account for possible reflections from internal bifurcations, impedance discontinuities, and duct terminations. A geometry consistent with the NASA Langley Curved Duct Test Rig is considered and the effects of acoustic treatment and non-anechoic termination are included. Two numerical implementations are studied and preliminary results indicate that improved accuracy in predicted amplitude and phase can be obtained for modes at a cut-off ratio of 1.7. Further predictions for modes at a cut-off ratio of 1.1 show improvement in predicted phase at the expense of increased amplitude error. Possible methods of improvement are suggested based on analytic and numerical analysis. It is hoped that coupling the parabolic iterative approach with less efficient, high fidelity finite element approaches will ultimately provide the capability to perform efficient, higher fidelity acoustic calculations within complex 3-D geometries for impedance eduction and noise propagation and radiation predictions.

  7. Preceptors' perceptions of the elements of a successful and an unsuccessful orientation period for newly graduated nurses.

    PubMed

    Lindfors, Kirsi; Meretoja, Riitta; Kaunonen, Marja; Paavilainen, Eija

    2018-04-01

    To identify existing orientation patterns and to find elements that may enhance or impede successful orientation of newly graduated nurses. Preceptors have first-hand information concerning orientation and their opinions should not be forgotten when organisations develop their orientation processes. An open-ended questionnaire was undertaken to collect data from preceptors (n = 172) about the current orientation patterns. Data were analysed by using deductive content analysis and by quantifying the phrases. Communal commitment to the orientation process, strong professional orientation know-how and supportive leadership were the enhancing elements of successful orientation. Complex interpersonal relationship problems during orientation, inadequate orientation resources and the organisation's structural and functional problems were the impeding elements of successful orientation. With the elements of successful orientation we ensure a supportive transition to practice for newly graduate nurses and possibilities to focus on good orientation practices for preceptors. Nurse leaders play an important part in ensuring newly graduated nurses have a safe nursing career starting point and, for preceptors, opportunities to provide orientation that is as good as possible. Supportive leadership, sufficient resources and good interpersonal relationships should be the leading principles during newly graduated nurses' orientation period. © 2017 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

  8. Low temperature-fired Ni-Cu-Zn ferrite nanoparticles through auto-combustion method for multilayer chip inductor applications

    PubMed Central

    2012-01-01

    Ferrite nanoparticles of basic composition Ni0.7-xZnxCu0.3Fe2O4 (0.0 ≤ x ≤ 0.2, x = 0.05) were synthesized through auto-combustion method and were characterized for structural properties using X-ray diffraction [XRD], scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy [FT-IR]. XRD analysis of the powder samples sintered at 600°C for 4 h showed the cubic spinel structure for ferrites with a narrow size distribution from 28 to 32 nm. FT-IR showed two absorption bands (v1 and v2) that are attributed to the stretching vibration of tetrahedral and octahedral sites. The effect of Zn doping on the electrical properties was studied using dielectric and impedance spectroscopy at room temperature. The dielectric parameters (ε', ε″, tanδ, and σac) show their maximum value for 10% Zn doping. The dielectric constant and loss tangent decrease with increasing frequency of the applied field. The results are explained in the light of dielectric polarization which is similar to the conduction phenomenon. The complex impedance shows that the conduction process in grown nanoparticles takes place predominantly through grain boundary volume. PACS: 75.50.Gg; 78.20; 77.22.Gm. PMID:22316055

  9. Vegetal and Animal Food Proteins Have a Different Impact in the First Postprandial Hour of Impedance-pH Analysis in Patients with Heartburn

    PubMed Central

    Guidi, Giada; Savarino, Edoardo V.; Frazzoni, Marzio; Tolone, Salvatore; Frazzoni, Leonardo; Fuccio, Lorenzo; Bertani, Lorenzo; Bodini, Giorgia; Ceccarelli, Linda; Marchi, Santino; de Bortoli, Nicola

    2018-01-01

    Background and Aims By means of 24 h impedance-pH monitoring, we aimed to evaluate the effect of two different meals with a bromatological balanced composition: one with a prevailing component of animal proteins and the other with vegetable proteins. Patients and Methods We enrolled 165 patients with heartburn and negative endoscopy, who underwent impedance-pH monitoring off therapy. Patients were allocated to receive a Mediterranean diet with a total caloric intake of about 1694 kcal, divided into two meals: one with a prevailing component of animal proteins and the other with vegetable proteins. We evaluated the total reflux number, acid exposure time (AET), and symptom-reflux association with impedance-pH analysis. Moreover, during the first postprandial hour (at lunch and dinner), we evaluated the total reflux number, number of acid and weakly acidic refluxes, AET, and presence of symptoms. Results The male/female ratio was 80/85. Mean age was 51.9 ± 12.1 years. Impedance-pH analysis showed that 55/165 patients had pathological AET or a number of refluxes (nonerosive reflux disease (NERD)), 49/165 had normal AET and a number of refluxes but positive symptom-reflux association (hypersensitive esophagus (HE)), and 61/165 had normal AET and a number of refluxes with negative symptom-reflux association (functional heartburn (FH)). The overall first postprandial hour analysis showed a higher total reflux number, acid reflux number, and AET after the animal protein meal than after the vegetable protein meal. Moreover, more symptoms were reported after the animal protein meal. Similar results have been observed in the three different subcategories of patients (NERD, HE, and FH). Conclusions Vegetable proteins are associated with a lower number of refluxes, particularly acid refluxes, and with a reduced number of symptoms during the first postprandial hour. This is a pilot study and future investigations are warranted to confirm these results. PMID:29849599

  10. System-Level Biochip for Impedance Sensing and Programmable Manipulation of Bladder Cancer Cells

    PubMed Central

    Chuang, Cheng-Hsin; Huang, Yao-Wei; Wu, Yao-Tung

    2011-01-01

    This paper develops a dielectrophoretic (DEP) chip with multi-layer electrodes and a micro-cavity array for programmable manipulations of cells and impedance measurement. The DEP chip consists of an ITO top electrode, flow chamber, middle electrode on an SU-8 surface, micro-cavity arrays of SU-8 and distributed electrodes at the bottom of the micro-cavity. Impedance sensing of single cells could be performed as follows: firstly, cells were trapped in a micro-cavity array by negative DEP force provided by top and middle electrodes; then, the impedance measurement for discrimination of different stage of bladder cancer cells was accomplished by the middle and bottom electrodes. After impedance sensing, the individual releasing of trapped cells was achieved by negative DEP force using the top and bottom electrodes in order to collect the identified cells once more. Both cell manipulations and impedance measurement had been integrated within a system controlled by a PC-based LabVIEW program. In the experiments, two different stages of bladder cancer cell lines (grade III: T24 and grade II: TSGH8301) were utilized for the demonstration of programmable manipulation and impedance sensing; as the results show, the lower-grade bladder cancer cells (TSGH8301) possess higher impedance than the higher-grade ones (T24). In general, the multi-step manipulations of cells can be easily programmed by controlling the electrical signal in our design, which provides an excellent platform technology for lab-on-a-chip (LOC) or a micro-total-analysis-system (Micro TAS). PMID:22346685

  11. Exploiting enzyme catalysis in ultra-low ion strength media for impedance biosensing of avian influenza virus using a bare interdigitated electrode.

    PubMed

    Fu, Yingchun; Callaway, Zachary; Lum, Jacob; Wang, Ronghui; Lin, Jianhan; Li, Yanbin

    2014-02-18

    Enzyme catalysis is broadly used in various fields but generally applied in media with high ion strength. Here, we propose the exploitation of enzymatic catalysis in ultra-low ion strength media to induce ion strength increase for developing a novel impedance biosensing method. Avian influenza virus H5N1, a serious worldwide threat to poultry and human health, was adopted as the analyte. Magnetic beads were modified with H5N1-specific aptamer to capture the H5N1 virus. This was followed by binding concanavalin A (ConA), glucose oxidase (GOx), and Au nanoparticles (AuNPs) to create bionanocomposites through a ConA-glycan interaction. The yielded sandwich complex was transferred to a glucose solution to trigger an enzymatic reaction to produce gluconic acid, which ionized to increase the ion strength of the solution, thus decreasing the impedance on a screen-printed interdigitated array electrode. This method took advantages of the high efficiency of enzymatic catalysis and the high susceptibility of electrochemical impedance on the ion strength and endowed the biosensor with high sensitivity and a detection limit of 8 × 10(-4) HAU in 200 μL sample, which was magnitudes lower than that of some analogues based on biosensing methods. Furthermore, the proposed method required only a bare electrode for measurements of ion strength change and had negligible change on the surficial properties of the electrode, though some modification of magnetic beads/Au nanoparticles and the construction of a sandwich complex were still needed. This helped to avoid the drawbacks of commonly used electrode immobilization methods. The merit for this method makes it highly useful and promising for applications. The proposed method may create new possibilities in the broad and well-developed enzymatic catalysis fields and find applications in developing sensitive, rapid, low-cost, and easy-to-operate biosensing and biocatalysis devices.

  12. a Study of the Electrical Impedance of Erythrocyte Membranes the Effects of Temperature and Radiation.

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Gerig, Lee Harvey

    The purpose of this work was to investigate the electrical impedance properties of Human Erythrocytes suspended in normal saline and specifically how radiation and temperature affected these properties. The cells were obtained by venepuncture from normal adult volunteers, washed three times and resuspended in phosphate buffered saline. The cells were irradiated by ('60)Co gamma rays to doses varying from 500 to 20,000 rads. The electrical impedance was measured using a computerized measurement and data acquisition system developed in the Biophysics Laboratory, School of Physics, University of New South Wales. The measurements were performed employing a four terminal technique and a digitally synthesized sine wave. The measurements revealed that nonirradiated blood from any specific individual had reproducible electrical properties from day to day and that there were only small differences in the electrical properties of blood from the various individuals sampled. This data displayed complex structure in both the capacitance versus frequency and conductance versus frequency curves. Of great interest was the dependence on the time post venesection, indicating a continual change in the state of the cells after removal from their natural environment. The experiments also revealed a non linear temperature dependence and a significant change in the suspension impedance as a function of absorbed dose. A model of the system was introduced which was able to emulate most of the measured phenomena. Studies of how the model can be adapted to fit the measured data for various cases (eg. time, temperature, radiation dose) suggested various physiological processes occurring within the membrane. The results were indicative of effects such as radiation induced changes in the lipid hydrocarbon region, the presence of a complex protein structure, the dissociation of charge within the protein, the presence of electrogenic pumps, and the destruction of the lipid matrix by radiation induced lipid peroxidation.

  13. Conversion loss and noise of microwave and millimeter-wave mixers. I - Theory. II - Experiment

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Held, D. N.; Kerr, A. R.

    1978-01-01

    The conversion loss and noise of microwave and millimeter-wave mixers are analyzed. Nonlinear capacitance, arbitrary embedding impedances, as well as shot, thermal and scattering noise arising in the diode, figure in the analysis. The anomalous mixer noise noted in millimeter-wave mixers by Kerr (1975) is shown to be explainable in terms of the correlation of down-converted components of the time-varying shot noise. A digital computer analysis of the conversion loss, noise, and output impedance of an 80-120-GHz mixer is also conducted.

  14. Comparison of Bioelectrical Impedance and Skinfolds with Hydrodensitometry in the Assessment of Body Composition in Healthy Young Adults

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Rutherford, W. J.; Diemer, Gary A.; Scott, Eric D.

    2011-01-01

    Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) is a widely used method for estimating body composition, yet issues concerning its validity persist in the literature. The purpose of this study was to validate percentage of body fat (BF) values estimated from BIA and skinfold (SF) with those obtained from hydrodensitometry (HD). Percent BF values measured…

  15. Assessment of fat-free mass from bioelectrical impedance analysis in obese women with Prader-Willi syndrome.

    PubMed

    Bedogni, Giorgio; Grugni, Graziano; Tringali, Gabriella; Agosti, Fiorenza; Sartorio, Alessandro

    2015-01-01

    Fat-free mass (FFM) is lower in obese subjects with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) than in obese subjects without PWS. FFM prediction equations developed in non-PWS subjects may, thus, not work in PWS subjects. To test whether the estimation of FFM from bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) in PWS subjects requires population-specific equations. Using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, this study measured FFM in 27 PWS and 56 non-PWS obese women and evaluated its association with the impedance index at 50 kHz (ZI50), i.e. the ratio between squared height and whole-body impedance at 50 kHz. At the same level of ZI50, PWS women had a lower FFM than non-PWS women. However, when PWS-specific equations were used, FFM was accurately estimated at the population level. An equation employing a dummy variable coding for PWS status was able to explain 85% of the variance of FFM with a root mean squared error of 3.3 kg in the pooled sample (n = 83). Population-specific equations are needed to estimate FFM from BIA in obese PWS women.

  16. Pressure transfer function of a JT15D nozzle due to acoustic and convected entropy fluctuations

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Miles, J. H.

    An acoustic transmission matrix analysis of sound propagation in a variable area duct with and without flow is extended to include convected entropy fluctuations. The boundary conditions used in the analysis are a transfer function relating entropy and pressure at the nozzle inlet and the nozzle exit impedance. The nozzle pressure transfer function calculated is compared with JT15D turbofan engine nozzle data. The one dimensional theory for sound propagation in a variable area nozzle with flow but without convected entropy is good at the low engine speeds where the nozzle exit Mach number is low (M=0.2) and the duct exit impedance model is good. The effect of convected entropy appears to be so negligible that it is obscured by the inaccuracy of the nozzle exit impedance model, the lack of information on the magnitude of the convected entropy and its phase relationship with the pressure, and the scatter in the data. An improved duct exit impedance model is required at the higher engine speeds where the nozzle exit Mach number is high (M=0.56) and at low frequencies (below 120 Hz).

  17. Time resolved impedance spectroscopy analysis of lithium phosphorous oxynitride - LiPON layers under mechanical stress

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Glenneberg, Jens; Bardenhagen, Ingo; Langer, Frederieke; Busse, Matthias; Kun, Robert

    2017-08-01

    In this paper we present investigations on the morphological and electrochemical changes of lithium phosphorous oxynitride (LiPON) under mechanically bent conditions. Therefore, two types of electrochemical cells with LiPON thin films were prepared by physical vapor deposition. First, symmetrical cells with two blocking electrodes (Cu/LiPON/Cu) were fabricated. Second, to simulate a more application-related scenario cells with one blocking and one non-blocking electrode (Cu/LiPON/Li/Cu) were analyzed. In order to investigate mechanical distortion induced transport property changes in LiPON layers the cells were deposited on a flexible polyimide substrate. Morphology of the as-prepared samples and deviations from the initial state after applying external stress by bending the cells over different radii were investigated by Focused Ion Beam- Scanning Electron Microscopy (FIB-SEM) cross-section and surface images. Mechanical stress induced changes in the impedance were evaluated by time-resolved electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Due to the formation of a stable, ion-conducting solid electrolyte interphase (SEI), cells with lithium show decreased impedance values. Furthermore, applying mechanical stress to the cells results in a further reduction of the electrolyte resistance. These results are supported by finite element analysis (FEA) simulations.

  18. The direct field boundary impedance of two-dimensional periodic structures with application to high frequency vibration prediction.

    PubMed

    Langley, Robin S; Cotoni, Vincent

    2010-04-01

    Large sections of many types of engineering construction can be considered to constitute a two-dimensional periodic structure, with examples ranging from an orthogonally stiffened shell to a honeycomb sandwich panel. In this paper, a method is presented for computing the boundary (or edge) impedance of a semi-infinite two-dimensional periodic structure, a quantity which is referred to as the direct field boundary impedance matrix. This terminology arises from the fact that none of the waves generated at the boundary (the direct field) are reflected back to the boundary in a semi-infinite system. The direct field impedance matrix can be used to calculate elastic wave transmission coefficients, and also to calculate the coupling loss factors (CLFs), which are required by the statistical energy analysis (SEA) approach to predicting high frequency vibration levels in built-up systems. The calculation of the relevant CLFs enables a two-dimensional periodic region of a structure to be modeled very efficiently as a single subsystem within SEA, and also within related methods, such as a recently developed hybrid approach, which couples the finite element method with SEA. The analysis is illustrated by various numerical examples involving stiffened plate structures.

  19. Effect of vanadium substitution on the dielectric and electrical conduction properties of SrTiO3 ceramics

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Paramita Mantry, Snigdha; Yadav, Abhinav; Fahad, Mohd; Sarun, P. M.

    2018-03-01

    Vanadium (V) substituted SrTiO3 (SrTi1-x V x O3 and x = 0.00-0.20) ceramic powders were synthesized by conventional solid state reaction method at sintering temperature 1250 ◦C for 2 hr. The structural, surface morphology and elemental valancy of the prepared samples were studied by using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The XRD analysis of SrTi1-x V x O3 confirmed the formation of single phase cubic crystal structure. The average grain size significantly increases from 0.5 μm to 7.2 μm with increasing V concentration. XPS spectrum confirms the partial reduction of Ti4+ to Ti3+ due to the doping of V5 + in SrTiO3 ceramics. The effect of V2O5 on the dielectric properties, impedance spectroscopy, Nyquist analysis and conductivity properties of SrTiO3 ceramics were investigated over a wide range of frequency (100 Hz—5 MHz) at 100 ◦C. The magnitude of dielectric constant and dielectric loss decreases with increase in frequency for all the samples. The maximum value of dielectric constant (ɛ r ˜ 500) is observed for x = 0.05 composition. The complex impedance analysis shows that the electrical conduction mechanism is mainly due to grain effect. The optimal dielectric constant (ɛ r ˜ 500) and effective capacitance (C eff = 35.80 nF) is observed for the sample with x = 0.05. Doping of donor cations lead to a drastic change in the microstructure and electrical behavior of SrTiO3 ceramics.

  20. Current source enhancements in Electrical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) to cancel unwanted capacitive effects

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zarafshani, Ali; Bach, Thomas; Chatwin, Chris; Xiang, Liangzhong; Zheng, Bin

    2017-03-01

    Electrical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) has emerged as a non-invasive imaging modality to detect and quantify functional or electrical properties related to the suspicious tumors in cancer screening, diagnosis and prognosis assessment. A constraint on EIS systems is that the current excitation system suffers from the effects of stray capacitance having a major impact on the hardware subsystem as the EIS is an ill-posed inverse problem which depends on the noise level in EIS measured data and regularization parameter in the reconstruction algorithm. There is high complexity in the design of stable current sources, with stray capacitance reducing the output impedance and bandwidth of the system. To confront this, we have designed an EIS current source which eliminates the effect of stray capacitance and other impacts of the capacitance via a variable inductance. In this paper, we present a combination of operational CCII based on a generalized impedance converter (OCCII-GIC) with a current source. The aim of this study is to use the EIS system as a biomedical imaging technique, which is effective in the early detection of breast cancer. This article begins with the theoretical description of the EIS structure, current source topologies and proposes a current conveyor in application of a Gyrator to eliminate the current source limitations and its development followed by simulation and experimental results. We demonstrated that the new design could achieve a high output impedance over a 3MHz frequency bandwidth when compared to other types of GIC circuits combined with an improved Howland topology.

  1. Quantitative evaluation method for differentiation of C2C12 myoblasts by ultrasonic microscopy

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Takanashi, Kyoichi; Washiya, Mamoru; Ota, Kazuki; Yoshida, Sachiko; Hozumi, Naohiro; Kobayashi, Kazuto

    2017-07-01

    Cell differentiation was evaluated by ultrasonic microscopy. However, there were some regions that showed a lower acoustic impedance than the culture liquid. It was considered that, in such regions, the cells were not perfectly in contact with the film substrate. Hence, a waveform analysis was performed, and compensated acoustic impedances in such regions were in a reasonable range of values. By the same analysis, the displacements of partially floated cells were also successfully calculated. The elapsed day transitions of the compensated acoustic impedances and displacements were successfully evaluated. In the process of differentiation, actin fibers comprising the cytoskeleton are supposed to loosen in order to induce cellular fusion. In addition, the progress in cell differentiation accompanied by a change into a three-dimensional structure can partially be assessed by the displacement between a cell and a cultured film. Hence, we believe that cell differentiation can be evaluated using an ultrasonic microscope.

  2. Advanced Non-Destructive Assessment Technology to Determine the Aging of Silicon Containing Materials for Generation IV Nuclear Reactors

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Koenig, T. W.; Olson, D. L.; Mishra, B.; King, J. C.; Fletcher, J.; Gerstenberger, L.; Lawrence, S.; Martin, A.; Mejia, C.; Meyer, M. K.; Kennedy, R.; Hu, L.; Kohse, G.; Terry, J.

    2011-06-01

    To create an in-situ, real-time method of monitoring neutron damage within a nuclear reactor core, irradiated silicon carbide samples are examined to correlate measurable variations in the material properties with neutron fluence levels experienced by the silicon carbide (SiC) during the irradiation process. The reaction by which phosphorus doping via thermal neutrons occurs in the silicon carbide samples is known to increase electron carrier density. A number of techniques are used to probe the properties of the SiC, including ultrasonic and Hall coefficient measurements, as well as high frequency impedance analysis. Gamma spectroscopy is also used to examine residual radioactivity resulting from irradiation activation of elements in the samples. Hall coefficient measurements produce the expected trend of increasing carrier concentration with higher fluence levels, while high frequency impedance analysis shows an increase in sample impedance with increasing fluence.

  3. Analytical theory of coherent synchrotron radiation wakefield of short bunches shielded by conducting parallel plates

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Stupakov, Gennady; Zhou, Demin

    2016-04-01

    We develop a general model of coherent synchrotron radiation (CSR) impedance with shielding provided by two parallel conducting plates. This model allows us to easily reproduce all previously known analytical CSR wakes and to expand the analysis to situations not explored before. It reduces calculations of the impedance to taking integrals along the trajectory of the beam. New analytical results are derived for the radiation impedance with shielding for the following orbits: a kink, a bending magnet, a wiggler of finite length, and an infinitely long wiggler. All our formulas are benchmarked against numerical simulations with the CSRZ computer code.

  4. Electrochemical Impedance Analysis of β-TITANIUM Alloys as Implants in Ringers Lactate Solution

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Bhola, Rahul; Bhola, Shaily M.; Mishra, Brajendra; Olson, David L.

    2010-02-01

    Commercially pure titanium and two β-titanium alloys, TNZT and TMZF, have been characterized using various electrochemical techniques for their corrosion behavior in Ringers lactate solution. The variation of corrosion potential and solution pH with time has been discussed. Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy has been used to fit the results into a circuit model. The stability of the oxides formed on the surface of these alloys has been correlated with impedance phase angles. Cyclic Potentiodynamic Polarization has been used to compute the corrosion parameters for the alloys. TMZF is found to be a better β-alloy as compared to TNZT.

  5. Protein Aggregation Measurement through Electrical Impedance Spectroscopy

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Affanni, A.; Corazza, A.; Esposito, G.; Fogolari, F.; Polano, M.

    2013-09-01

    The paper presents a novel methodology to measure the fibril formation in protein solutions. We designed a bench consisting of a sensor having interdigitated electrodes, a PDMS hermetic reservoir and an impedance meter automatically driven by calculator. The impedance data are interpolated with a lumped elements model and their change over time can provide information on the aggregation process. Encouraging results have been obtained by testing the methodology on K-casein, a protein of milk, with and without the addition of a drug inhibiting the aggregation. The amount of sample needed to perform this measurement is by far lower than the amount needed by fluorescence analysis.

  6. Analytical theory of coherent synchrotron radiation wakefield of short bunches shielded by conducting parallel plates

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Stupakov, Gennady; Zhou, Demin

    2016-04-21

    We develop a general model of coherent synchrotron radiation (CSR) impedance with shielding provided by two parallel conducting plates. This model allows us to easily reproduce all previously known analytical CSR wakes and to expand the analysis to situations not explored before. It reduces calculations of the impedance to taking integrals along the trajectory of the beam. New analytical results are derived for the radiation impedance with shielding for the following orbits: a kink, a bending magnet, a wiggler of finite length, and an infinitely long wiggler. All our formulas are benchmarked against numerical simulations with the CSRZ computer code.

  7. The cytochrome b6f complex at the crossroad of photosynthetic electron transport pathways.

    PubMed

    Tikhonov, Alexander N

    2014-08-01

    Regulation of photosynthetic electron transport at the level of the cytochrome b6f complex provides efficient performance of the chloroplast electron transport chain (ETC). In this review, after brief overview of the structural organization of the chloroplast ETC, the consideration of the problem of electron transport control is focused on the plastoquinone (PQ) turnover and its interaction with the b6f complex. The data available show that the rates of plastoquinol (PQH2) formation in PSII and its diffusion to the b6f complex do not limit the overall rate of electron transfer between photosystem II (PSII) and photosystem I (PSI). Analysis of experimental and theoretical data demonstrates that the rate-limiting step in the intersystem chain of electron transport is determined by PQH2 oxidation at the Qo-site of the b6f complex, which is accompanied by the proton release into the thylakoid lumen. The acidification of the lumen causes deceleration of PQH2 oxidation, thus impeding the intersystem electron transport. Two other mechanisms of regulation of the intersystem electron transport have been considered: (i) "state transitions" associated with the light-induced redistribution of solar energy between PSI and PSII, and (ii) redistribution of electron fluxes between alternative pathways (noncyclic electron transport and cyclic electron flow around PSI). Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

  8. Hydration in advanced cancer: can bioelectrical impedance analysis improve the evidence base? A systematic review of the literature.

    PubMed

    Nwosu, Amara Callistus; Mayland, Catriona R; Mason, Stephen R; Khodabukus, Andrew F; Varro, Andrea; Ellershaw, John E

    2013-09-01

    Decisions surrounding the administration of clinically assisted hydration to patients dying of cancer can be challenging because of the limited understanding of hydration in advanced cancer and a lack of evidence to guide health care professionals. Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) has been used to assess hydration in various patient groupings, but evidence for its use in advanced cancer is limited. To critically appraise existing methods of hydration status assessment in advanced cancer and review the potential for BIA to assess hydration in advanced cancer. Searches were carried out in four electronic databases. A hand search of selected peer-reviewed journals and conference abstracts also was conducted. Studies reporting (de)hydration assessment (physical examination, biochemical measures, symptom assessment, and BIA) in patients with advanced cancer were included. The results highlight how clinical examination and biochemical tests are standard methods of assessing hydration, but limitations exist with these methods in advanced cancer. Furthermore, there is disagreement over the evidence for some commonly associated symptoms with dehydration in cancer. Although there are limitations with using BIA alone to assess hydration in advanced cancer, analysis of BIA raw measurements through the method of bioelectrical impedance vector analysis may have a role in this population. The benefits and burdens of providing clinically assisted hydration to patients dying of cancer are unclear. Bioelectrical impedance vector analysis shows promise as a hydration assessment tool but requires further study in advanced cancer. Innovative methodologies for research are required to add to the evidence base and ultimately improve the care for the dying. Copyright © 2013 U.S. Cancer Pain Relief Committee. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  9. Broadband spectroscopy of dynamic impedances with short chirp pulses.

    PubMed

    Min, M; Land, R; Paavle, T; Parve, T; Annus, P; Trebbels, D

    2011-07-01

    An impedance spectrum of dynamic systems is time dependent. Fast impedance changes take place, for example, in high throughput microfluidic devices and in operating cardiovascular systems. Measurements must be as short as possible to avoid significant impedance changes during the spectrum analysis, and as long as possible for enlarging the excitation energy and obtaining a better signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). The authors propose to use specific short chirp pulses for excitation. Thanks to the specific properties of the chirp function, it is possible to meet the needs for a spectrum bandwidth, measurement time and SNR so that the most accurate impedance spectrogram can be obtained. The chirp wave excitation can include thousands of cycles when the impedance changes slowly, but in the case of very high speed changes it can be shorter than a single cycle, preserving the same excitation bandwidth. For example, a 100 kHz bandwidth can be covered by the chirp pulse with durations from 10 µs to 1 s; only its excitation energy differs also 10(5) times. After discussing theoretical short chirp properties in detail, the authors show how to generate short chirps in the microsecond range with a bandwidth up to a few MHz by using digital synthesis architectures developed inside a low-cost standard field programmable gate array.

  10. Electrical properties of rat muscle after sciatic nerve injury: Impact on surface impedance measurements assessed via finite element analysis

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ahad, M. A.; Rutkove, S. B.

    2010-04-01

    Tetrapolar surface electrical impedance methods are sensitive to changes in muscle status and can therefore provide a means for studying neuromuscular disease noninvasively. In order to better understand the relationship between surface impedance measurements and the actual muscle electrical properties, we performed measurements on 20 adult Wistar rats, 8 of which underwent sciatic nerve crush. Surface impedance measurements were performed on the left hind limb both before injury and out to 2 weeks after injury. In addition, both normal and sciatic crush animals were sacrificed and the dielectric properties of the extracted gastrocnemius muscle measured. We found that 50 kHz conductivities were greater in the animals that underwent crush than in the animals that did not. The permittivities in both directions, however, showed non-significant differences. In order to analyze the effect of these changes as well as the accompanying reduction in muscle volume, a finite element model of the hind limb was developed based on computerized tomographic imaging. The model successfully predicted the surface impedance values in the animals after crush injury and, by its inverse application, may be used to help determine the underlying electrical properties of muscle in various neuromuscular diseases based on surface impedance data.

  11. Impedance dispersion analysis of drug-membrane interactions

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Tacheva, Bilyana; Paarvanova, Boyana; Ivanov, Ivan T.; Karabaliev, Miroslav

    2017-11-01

    Thin lipid films modified glassy carbon electrodes (GCE) were used in this work as model system for studying the interactions between two antipsychotic phenothiazine drugs, chlorpromazine and thioridazine, and the lipid fraction of the biomembranes. The lipid films on the electrode surface were obtained through the thinning of film-forming lipid solution deposited between an electrolyte phase and the working GC electrode. The effects of the drugs on the lipid film structure were investigated by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). To characterize the electric properties of the lipid film the impedance of the working GCE is modeled with an equivalent circuit consisting of parallel capacitance Cp and resistance Rp. These capacitance and resistance are not frequency independent but could be calculated as equivalent Cp and Rp for each measured frequency of the impedance spectrum and presented as functions of the frequency f, Cp = Cp(f) and Rp= Rp(f). For the lipid films used in this work, it is demonstrated that both Cp(f) and Rp(f) are well approximated with power-law functions. This behavior implies that the impedance Z of the films could be analysed in terms of the well-known constant-phase angle element (CPE), which is often used to describe the interfacial impedance of solid working electrodes.

  12. Dielectric spectroscopy of solutions of amino silicone emulsion in distilled water

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Shah, K. N.; Rana, V. A.; Trivedi, C. M.; Vankar, H. P.

    2016-05-01

    Complex permittivity spectra ɛ*(ω) = ɛ' - jɛ″ of solutions of amino silicone emulsion in distilled water in the frequency range 100 Hz to 2 MHz were obtained using precision LCR meter. Complex permittivity data is used to find out complex impedance z*(ω) and complex electric conductivity σ*(ω). All these spectra are used to gain information about various polarization processes taking place in the solutions of amino silicone emulsion in distilled water under the effect of ac electric field. The frequency and concentration dependent behavior of the solutions of amino silicone emulsion in distilled waterhave beenalso investigated. Density and refractive index of the samples are also measured and are reported.

  13. Measurement of complex permittivities of biological materials and human skin in vivo in the frequency band

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Ghodgaonkar, D.K.

    1987-01-01

    A new method, namely, modified infinite sample method, has been developed which is particularly suitable for millimeter-wave dielectric measurements of biological materials. In this method, an impedance transformer is used which reduces the reflectivity of the biological sample. Because of the effect of introducing impendance transformer, the measured reflection coefficients are more sensitive to the complex permittivities of biological samples. For accurate measurement of reflection coefficients, two automated measurment systems were developed which cover the frequencies range of 26.5-60 GHz. An uncertainty analysis was performed to get an estimate of the errors in the measured complex permittivities. The dielectric propertiesmore » were measured for 10% saline solution, whole human blood, 200 mg/ml bovine serum albumin (BSA) solution and suspension of Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells. The Maxwell-Fricke equation, which is derived from dielectric mixture theory, was used for determination bound water in BSA solution. The results of all biological samples were interpreted by fitting Debye relaxation and Cole-Cole model. It is observed that the dielectric data for the biological materials can be explained on the basis of Debye relaxation of water molecule.« less

  14. Impact of impedance unbalance on the efficiency of electricity transmission and distribution - A case study

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Pavlov, L'uboš; Skurčák, L'uboš; Chovanec, Juraj; Altus, Juraj

    2017-11-01

    This article is devoted to the analysis of the possible influence of impedance asymmetry on the efficiency of electricity transmission and distribution in the electricity system in Slovakia, at a voltage level of 110 kV - 400 kV, using synchronic phasor monitoring results. For simplicity of calculations, in practice, the impedance imbalance from mutual interfacial inductive capacitances bonds is neglected. In this way, the 3-phase network is interpreted as symmetrical in the calculations. In this case, it is possible to determine only some components of losses (ohmic losses, corona loss, leakages, etc). The influence of impedance asymmetry can be quantified by calculation using the results of the monitoring of the synchronous phasors of selected electricity system elements (OHL, transformer, choke) or by 3-phase modelling of real system elements. frequency to test the transformer for induced over voltage test, and its characteristics is analysed.

  15. A Wireless Multi-Sensor Dielectric Impedance Spectroscopy Platform

    PubMed Central

    Ghaffari, Seyed Alireza; Caron, William-O.; Loubier, Mathilde; Rioux, Maxime; Viens, Jeff; Gosselin, Benoit; Messaddeq, Younes

    2015-01-01

    This paper describes the development of a low-cost, miniaturized, multiplexed, and connected platform for dielectric impedance spectroscopy (DIS), designed for in situ measurements and adapted to wireless network architectures. The platform has been tested and used as a DIS sensor node on ZigBee mesh and was able to interface up to three DIS sensors at the same time and relay the information through the network for data analysis and storage. The system is built from low-cost commercial microelectronics components, performs dielectric spectroscopy ranging from 5 kHz to 100 kHz, and benefits from an on-the-fly calibration system that makes sensor calibration easy. The paper describes the microelectronics design, the Nyquist impedance response, the measurement sensitivity and accuracy, and the testing of the platform for in situ dielectric impedance spectroscopy applications pertaining to fertilizer sensing, water quality sensing, and touch sensing. PMID:26393587

  16. FFT-impedance spectroscopy analysis of the growth of magnetic metal nanowires in ultra-high aspect ratio InP membranes

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Gerngross, M.-D.; Carstensen, J.; Föll, H.; Adelung, R.

    2016-01-01

    This paper reports on the characterization of the electrochemical growth process of magnetic nanowires in ultra-high-aspect ratio InP membranes via in situ fast Fourier transform impedance spectroscopy in a typical frequency range from 75 Hz to 18.5 kHz. The measured impedance data from the Ni, Co, and FeCo can be very well fitted using the same electric equivalent circuit consisting of a series resistance in serial connection to an RC-element and a Maxwell element. The impedance data clearly indicate the similarities in the growth behavior of Ni, Co and FeCo nanowires in ultra-high aspect ratio InP membranes—the beneficial impact of boric acid on the metal deposition in ultra-high aspect ratio membranes and the diffusion limitation of boric acid, as well as differences such as passivation or side reactions.

  17. Development of the algorithm of measurement data and tomographic section reconstruction results processing for evaluating the respiratory activity of the lungs using the multi-angle electric impedance tomography

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Aleksanyan, Grayr; Shcherbakov, Ivan; Kucher, Artem; Sulyz, Andrew

    2018-04-01

    Continuous monitoring of the patient's breathing by the method of multi-angle electric impedance tomography allows to obtain images of conduction change in the chest cavity during the monitoring. Direct analysis of images is difficult due to the large amount of information and low resolution images obtained by multi-angle electrical impedance tomography. This work presents a method for obtaining a graph of respiratory activity of the lungs based on the results of continuous lung monitoring using the multi-angle electrical impedance tomography method. The method makes it possible to obtain a graph of the respiratory activity of the left and right lungs separately, as well as a summary graph, to which it is possible to apply methods of processing the results of spirography.

  18. Feasibility and acceptability of a self-measurement using a portable bioelectrical impedance analysis, by the patient with chronic heart failure, in acute decompensated heart failure.

    PubMed

    Huguel, Benjamin; Vaugrenard, Thibaud; Saby, Ludivine; Benhamou, Lionel; Arméro, Sébastien; Camilleri, Élise; Langar, Aida; Alitta, Quentin; Grino, Michel; Retornaz, Frédérique

    2018-06-01

    Chronic heart failure (CHF) is a major public health matter. Mainly affecting the elderly, it is responsible for a high rate of hospitalization due to the frequency of acute heart failure (ADHF). This represents a disabling pathology for the patient and very costly for the health care system. Our study is designed to assess a connected and portable bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) that could reduce these hospitalizations by preventing early ADHF. This prospective study included patients hospitalized in cardiology for ADHF. Patients achieved 3 self-measurements using the BIA during their hospitalization and answered a questionnaire evaluating the acceptability of this self-measurement. The results of these measures were compared with the clinical, biological and echocardiographic criteria of patients at the same time. Twenty-three patients were included, the self-measurement during the overall duration of the hospitalization was conducted autonomously by more than 80% of the patients. The acceptability (90%) for the use of the portable BIA was excellent. Some correlations were statistically significant, such as the total water difference to the weight difference (p=0.001). There were common trends between the variation of impedance analysis measures and other evaluation criteria. The feasibility and acceptability of a self-measurement of bioelectrical impedance analysis by the patient in AHF opens up major prospects in the management of monitoring patients in CHF. The interest of this tool is the prevention of ADHF leading to hospitalization or re-hospitalizations now requires to be presented by new studies.

  19. Validity of segmental bioelectrical impedance analysis for estimating fat-free mass in children including overweight individuals.

    PubMed

    Ohta, Megumi; Midorikawa, Taishi; Hikihara, Yuki; Masuo, Yoshihisa; Sakamoto, Shizuo; Torii, Suguru; Kawakami, Yasuo; Fukunaga, Tetsuo; Kanehisa, Hiroaki

    2017-02-01

    This study examined the validity of segmental bioelectrical impedance (BI) analysis for predicting the fat-free masses (FFMs) of whole-body and body segments in children including overweight individuals. The FFM and impedance (Z) values of arms, trunk, legs, and whole body were determined using a dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and segmental BI analyses, respectively, in 149 boys and girls aged 6 to 12 years, who were divided into model-development (n = 74), cross-validation (n = 35), and overweight (n = 40) groups. Simple regression analysis was applied to (length) 2 /Z (BI index) for each of the whole-body and 3 segments to develop the prediction equations of the measured FFM of the related body part. In the model-development group, the BI index of each of the 3 segments and whole body was significantly correlated to the measured FFM (R 2 = 0.867-0.932, standard error of estimation = 0.18-1.44 kg (5.9%-8.7%)). There was no significant difference between the measured and predicted FFM values without systematic error. The application of each equation derived in the model-development group to the cross-validation and overweight groups did not produce significant differences between the measured and predicted FFM values and systematic errors, with an exception that the arm FFM in the overweight group was overestimated. Segmental bioelectrical impedance analysis is useful for predicting the FFM of each of whole-body and body segments in children including overweight individuals, although the application for estimating arm FFM in overweight individuals requires a certain modification.

  20. Structural damage identification using piezoelectric impedance measurement with sparse inverse analysis

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Cao, Pei; Qi, Shuai; Tang, J.

    2018-03-01

    The impedance/admittance measurements of a piezoelectric transducer bonded to or embedded in a host structure can be used as damage indicator. When a credible model of the healthy structure, such as the finite element model, is available, using the impedance/admittance change information as input, it is possible to identify both the location and severity of damage. The inverse analysis, however, may be under-determined as the number of unknowns in high-frequency analysis is usually large while available input information is limited. The fundamental challenge thus is how to find a small set of solutions that cover the true damage scenario. In this research we cast the damage identification problem into a multi-objective optimization framework to tackle this challenge. With damage locations and severities as unknown variables, one of the objective functions is the difference between impedance-based model prediction in the parametric space and the actual measurements. Considering that damage occurrence generally affects only a small number of elements, we choose the sparsity of the unknown variables as another objective function, deliberately, the l 0 norm. Subsequently, a multi-objective Dividing RECTangles (DIRECT) algorithm is developed to facilitate the inverse analysis where the sparsity is further emphasized by sigmoid transformation. As a deterministic technique, this approach yields results that are repeatable and conclusive. In addition, only one algorithmic parameter, the number of function evaluations, is needed. Numerical and experimental case studies demonstrate that the proposed framework is capable of obtaining high-quality damage identification solutions with limited measurement information.

  1. Magnetic field tunable ac electrical transport of LaFeO3-wax nanocomposites

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Roy, Supratim; Mandal, S. K.; Debnath, Rajesh; Nath, Debajyoti; Dey, P.

    2018-04-01

    Single phase perovskite LaFeO3 nanoparticles have been prepared through chemical pyrophoric reaction process. It is further grinded with paraffin wax of quantity 0.5 wt% of total composition to obtain an organic composite 99.5%LaFeO3-0.5%Wax. Studies of ac electrical properties viz. complex impedance, dielectric response, loss coefficient have been done in presence of external dc magnetic field, which reveals a good magnetoimpedance (˜221%) and a negative magnetodielectric (˜ 64%). The value of impedance, its real and imaginary part is observed to increase with dc field. The composite exhibits high dielectric constant (˜4760). The ac conductivity is found to decrease with applied field and increase with ac frequency.

  2. Reproducibility experiments on measuring acoustical properties of rigid-frame porous media (round-robin tests).

    PubMed

    Horoshenkov, Kirill V; Khan, Amir; Bécot, François-Xavier; Jaouen, Luc; Sgard, Franck; Renault, Amélie; Amirouche, Nesrine; Pompoli, Francesco; Prodi, Nicola; Bonfiglio, Paolo; Pispola, Giulio; Asdrubali, Francesco; Hübelt, Jörn; Atalla, Noureddine; Amédin, Celse K; Lauriks, Walter; Boeckx, Laurens

    2007-07-01

    This paper reports the results of reproducibility experiments on the interlaboratory characterization of the acoustical properties of three types of consolidated porous media: granulated porous rubber, reticulated foam, and fiberglass. The measurements are conducted in several independent laboratories in Europe and North America. The studied acoustical characteristics are the surface complex acoustic impedance at normal incidence and plane wave absorption coefficient which are determined using the standard impedance tube method. The paper provides detailed procedures related to sample preparation and installation and it discusses the dispersion in the acoustical material property observed between individual material samples and laboratories. The importance of the boundary conditions, homogeneity of the porous material structure, and stability of the adopted signal processing method are highlighted.

  3. Assessing Body Composition of Children and Adolescents Using Dual-Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry, Skinfolds, and Electrical Impedance

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Mooney, Angela; Kelsey, Laurel; Fellingham, Gilbert W.; George, James D.; Hager, Ron L.; Myrer, J. William; Vehrs, Pat R.

    2011-01-01

    To determine the validity and reliability of percent body fat estimates in 177 boys and 154 girls between 12-17 years of age, percent body fat was assessed once using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and twice using the sum of two skinfolds and three bioelectrical impedance analysis devices. The assessments were repeated on 79 participants on a…

  4. Effect of Exercise Intensity on Percent Body Fat Determined by Leg-to-Leg and Segmental Bioelectrical Impedance Analyses in Adults

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Andreacci, Joseph L.; Nagle, Trisha; Fitzgerald, Elise; Rawson, Eric S.; Dixon, Curt B.

    2013-01-01

    Purpose: We examined the impact that cycle ergometry exercise had on percent body fat (%BF) estimates when assessed using either leg-to-leg or segmental bioelectrical impedance analysis (LBIA; SBIA) and whether the intensity of the exercise bout impacts the %BF magnitude of change. Method: Seventy-four college-aged adults participated in this…

  5. Compact Interconnection Networks Based on Quantum Dots

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Fijany, Amir; Toomarian, Nikzad; Modarress, Katayoon; Spotnitz, Matthew

    2003-01-01

    Architectures that would exploit the distinct characteristics of quantum-dot cellular automata (QCA) have been proposed for digital communication networks that connect advanced digital computing circuits. In comparison with networks of wires in conventional very-large-scale integrated (VLSI) circuitry, the networks according to the proposed architectures would be more compact. The proposed architectures would make it possible to implement complex interconnection schemes that are required for some advanced parallel-computing algorithms and that are difficult (and in many cases impractical) to implement in VLSI circuitry. The difficulty of implementation in VLSI and the major potential advantage afforded by QCA were described previously in Implementing Permutation Matrices by Use of Quantum Dots (NPO-20801), NASA Tech Briefs, Vol. 25, No. 10 (October 2001), page 42. To recapitulate: Wherever two wires in a conventional VLSI circuit cross each other and are required not to be in electrical contact with each other, there must be a layer of electrical insulation between them. This, in turn, makes it necessary to resort to a noncoplanar and possibly a multilayer design, which can be complex, expensive, and even impractical. As a result, much of the cost of designing VLSI circuits is associated with minimization of data routing and assignment of layers to minimize crossing of wires. Heretofore, these considerations have impeded the development of VLSI circuitry to implement complex, advanced interconnection schemes. On the other hand, with suitable design and under suitable operating conditions, QCA-based signal paths can be allowed to cross each other in the same plane without adverse effect. In principle, this characteristic could be exploited to design compact, coplanar, simple (relative to VLSI) QCA-based networks to implement complex, advanced interconnection schemes. The proposed architectures require two advances in QCA-based circuitry beyond basic QCA-based binary-signal wires described in the cited prior article. One of these advances would be the development of QCA-based wires capable of bidirectional transmission of signals. The other advance would be the development of QCA circuits capable of high-impedance state outputs. The high-impedance states would be utilized along with the 0- and 1-state outputs of QCA.

  6. Effects of diabetes and gender on mechanical properties of the arterial system in rats: aortic impedance analysis.

    PubMed

    Chang, Kuo-Chu; Hsu, Kwan-Lih; Tseng, Yung-Zu

    2003-01-01

    We determined the effects of diabetes and gender on the physical properties of the vasculature in streptozotocin (STZ)-treated rats based on the aortic input impedance analysis. Rats given STZ 65 mg/kg i.v. were compared with untreated age-matched controls. Pulsatile aortic pressure and flow signals were measured and were then subjected to Fourier transformation for the analysis of aortic input impedance. Wave transit time was determined using the impulse response function of the filtered aortic input impedance spectra. Male but not female diabetic rats exhibited an increase in cardiac output in the absence of any significant changes in arterial blood pressure, resulting in a decline in total peripheral resistance. However, in each gender group, diabetes contributed to an increase in wave reflection factor, from 0.47 +/- 0.04 to 0.84 +/- 0.03 in males and from 0.46 +/- 0.03 to 0.81 +/- 0.03 in females. Diabetic rats had reduced wave transit time, at 18.82 +/- 0.60 vs 21.34 +/- 0.51 msec in males and at 19.63 +/- 0.37 vs 22.74 +/- 0.57 msec in females. Changes in wave transit time and reflection factor indicate that diabetes can modify the timing and magnitude of the wave reflection in the rat arterial system. Meanwhile, diabetes produced a fall in aortic characteristic impedance from 0.023 +/- 0.002 to 0.009 +/- 0.001 mmHg/min/kg/ml in males and from 0.028 +/- 0.002 to 0.014 +/- 0.001 mmHg/min/kg/ml in females. With unaltered aortic pressure, both the diminished aortic characteristic impedance and wave transit time suggest that the muscle inactivation in diabetes may occur in aortas and large arteries and may cause a detriment to the aortic distensibility in rats with either sex. We conclude that only rats with male gender diabetes produce a detriment to the physical properties of the resistance arterioles. In spite of male or female gender, diabetes decreases the aortic distensibility and impairs the wave reflection phenomenon in the rat arterial system.

  7. Sulfo-NHS-SS-biotin derivatization: a versatile tool for MALDI mass analysis of PTMs in lysine-rich proteins.

    PubMed

    Markoutsa, Stavroula; Bahr, Ute; Papasotiriou, Dimitrios G; Häfner, Ann-Kathrin; Karas, Michael; Sorg, Bernd L

    2014-03-01

    The discovery of PTMs in proteins by MS requires nearly complete sequence coverage of the detected proteolytic peptides. Unfortunately, mass spectrometric analysis of the desired sequence fragments is often impeded due to low ionization efficiency and/or signal suppression in complex samples. When several lysine residues are in close proximity tryptic peptides may be too short for mass analysis. Moreover, modified peptides often appear in low stoichiometry and need to be enriched before analysis. We present here how the use of sulfo-NHS-SS-biotin derivatization of lysine side chain can help to detect PTMs in lysine-rich proteins. This label leads to a mass shift which can be adjusted by reduction of the SS bridge and alkylation with different reagents. Low intensity peptides can be enriched by use of streptavidin beads. Using this method, the functionally relevant protein kinase A phosphorylation site in 5-lipoxygenase was detected for the first time by MS. Additionally, methylation and acetylation could be unambiguously determined in histones. © 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

  8. Single subject design: Use of time series analyses in a small cohort to understand adherence with a prescribed fluid restriction.

    PubMed

    Reilly, Carolyn Miller; Higgins, Melinda; Smith, Andrew; Culler, Steven D; Dunbar, Sandra B

    2015-11-01

    This paper presents a secondary in-depth analysis of five persons with heart failure randomized to receive an education and behavioral intervention on fluid restriction as part of a larger study. Using a single subject analysis design, time series analyses models were constructed for each of the five patients for a period of 180 days to determine correlations between daily measures of patient reported fluid intake, thoracic impedance, and weights, and relationships between patient reported outcomes of symptom burden and health related quality of life over time. Negative relationships were observed between fluid intake and thoracic impedance, and between impedance and weight, while positive correlations were observed between daily fluid intake and weight. By constructing time series analyses of daily measures of fluid congestion, trends and patterns of fluid congestion emerged which could be used to guide individualized patient care or future research endeavors. Employment of such a specialized analysis technique allows for the elucidation of clinically relevant findings potentially disguised when only evaluating aggregate outcomes of larger studies. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  9. Evaluation of Nutritional Status in Children during Predialysis, or Treated By Peritoneal Dialysis or Hemodialysis.

    PubMed

    Yılmaz, Dilek; Sönmez, Ferah; Karakaş, Sacide; Yavaşcan, Önder; Aksu, Nejat; Ömürlü, İmran Kurt; Yenisey, Çiğdem

    2016-06-01

    Malnutrition is one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality in children with chronic kidney disease (CKD). The objective of this study was to evaluate nutritional status of children with stage 3-4 CKD and treated by peritoneal dialysis or hemodialysis using anthropometric measurements, biochemical parameters and bioelectrical impedance analysis. The study included a total of 52 patients and 46 healthy children. In anthropometric evaluation, the children with CKD had lower values for standard deviation score for weight, height, body mass index, skinfold thickness and mid-arm circumference than those of healthy children (p < 0.05). The fat mass (%) and the body cell mass (%) measurements performed by bioelectrical impedance analysis were lower compared with the control group (p < 0.05). It is considered that bioelectrical impedance analysis measurement should be used with anthropometric measurements, which are easy to perform, to achieve more accurate nutritional evaluation in children. © The Author [2016]. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

  10. Investigations on structural and giant magneto impedance properties of Zn3(VO4)2 nanorods

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Malaidurai, M.; Bulusu, Venkat; De, Sourodeep; Thangavel, R.

    2018-05-01

    In this paper, we successfully synthesized Zn3(VO4)2 novel nanorods by hydrothermal method. As mixed phase of Zn3(VO4)2 structural and phase transformations were monitored in crystal lattice with different ionic strength by X-ray diffraction(XRD). The Zn3(VO4)2 thin film formation validated through qualitative and quantitative analysis by FESEM and it is clearly depicted the formation of the Zn3(VO4)2 nanorods varied from ˜100nm in lengths and ˜30 nm in widths. The Zn precursor's anions directly influence the composition and shape of the resultant hydrated Zn3(VO4)2. Impedance analysis were closely studied with Impedance-Frequency characterization, which was then followed by a dielectric measurement. The analysis of GMI effect was carried out with the help of the model equivalent circuit at low frequencies, constant phase element (CPE). GMI effect and the sensitivity are calculated for the sample by appling magnetic field and driving frequency in order to analyze the giant magnetoimpedance resistance of grain boundaries for spintronics applications.

  11. Effects of Stress and Working Memory Capacity on Foreign Language Readers' Inferential Processing during Comprehension

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Rai, Manpreet K.; Loschky, Lester C.; Harris, Richard Jackson; Peck, Nicole R.; Cook, Lindsay G.

    2011-01-01

    Although stress is frequently claimed to impede foreign language (FL) reading comprehension, it is usually not explained how. We investigated the effects of stress, working memory (WM) capacity, and inferential complexity on Spanish FL readers' inferential processing during comprehension. Inferences, although necessary for reading comprehension,…

  12. Preparing Mathematics and Science Teachers through a Residency Program: Perceptions and Reflections

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Garza, Rubén; Werner, Patrice

    2014-01-01

    The critical challenge of recruiting, preparing, and retaining high-quality mathematics and science teachers for high-need urban schools is complex. Therefore, identifying factors that support and impede a teaching residency program's implementation may have the potential to build an effective initiative that will benefit all stakeholders. The…

  13. Improving MRI surface coil decoupling to reduce B1 distortion

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Larson, Christian

    As clinical MRI systems continue to advance, larger focus is being given to image uniformity. Good image uniformity begins with generating uniform magnetic fields, which are easily distorted by induced currents on receive-only surface coils. It has become an industry standard to combat these induced currents by placing RF blocking networks on surface coils. This paper explores the effect of blocking network impedance of phased array surface coils on B1 distortion. It has been found and verified, that traditional approaches for blocking network design in complex phased arrays can leave undesirable B1 distortions at 3 Tesla. The traditional approach of LC tank blocking is explored, but shifts from the idea that higher impedance equals better B1 distortion at 3T. The result is a new design principle for a tank with a finite inductive reactance at the Larmor Frequency. The solution is demonstrated via simulation using a simple, single, large tuning loop. The same loop, along with a smaller loop, is used to derive the new design principle, which is then applied to a complex phased array structure.

  14. Bacterial effectors target the common signaling partner BAK1 to disrupt multiple MAMP receptor-signaling complexes and impede plant immunity.

    PubMed

    Shan, Libo; He, Ping; Li, Jianming; Heese, Antje; Peck, Scott C; Nürnberger, Thorsten; Martin, Gregory B; Sheen, Jen

    2008-07-17

    Successful pathogens have evolved strategies to interfere with host immune systems. For example, the ubiquitous plant pathogen Pseudomonas syringae injects two sequence-distinct effectors, AvrPto and AvrPtoB, to intercept convergent innate immune responses stimulated by multiple microbe-associated molecular patterns (MAMPs). However, the direct host targets and precise molecular mechanisms of bacterial effectors remain largely obscure. We show that AvrPto and AvrPtoB bind the Arabidopsis receptor-like kinase BAK1, a shared signaling partner of both the flagellin receptor FLS2 and the brassinosteroid receptor BRI1. This targeting interferes with ligand-dependent association of FLS2 with BAK1 during infection. It also impedes BAK1-dependent host immune responses to diverse other MAMPs and brassinosteroid signaling. Significantly, the structural basis of AvrPto-BAK1 interaction appears to be distinct from AvrPto-Pto association required for effector-triggered immunity. These findings uncover a unique strategy of bacterial pathogenesis where virulence effectors block signal transmission through a key common component of multiple MAMP-receptor complexes.

  15. A Reusable Impedimetric Aptasensor for Detection of Thrombin Employing a Graphite-Epoxy Composite Electrode

    PubMed Central

    Ocaña, Cristina; Pacios, Mercè; del Valle, Manel

    2012-01-01

    Here, we report the application of a label-free electrochemical aptasensor based on a graphite-epoxy composite electrode for the detection of thrombin; in this work, aptamers were immobilized onto the electrodes surface using wet physical adsorption. The detection principle is based on the changes of the interfacial properties of the electrode; these were probed in the presence of the reversible redox couple [Fe(CN)6]3−/[Fe(CN)6]4− using impedance measurements. The electrode surface was partially blocked due to formation of aptamer-thrombin complex, resulting in an increase of the interfacial electron-transfer resistance detected by Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS). The aptasensor showed a linear response for thrombin in the range of 7.5 pM to 75 pM and a detection limit of 4.5 pM. The aptasensor was regenerated by breaking the complex formed between the aptamer and thrombin using 2.0 M NaCl solution at 42 °C, showing its operation for different cycles. The interference response caused by main proteins in serum has been characterized. PMID:22736991

  16. Determination of the magnetization scaling exponent for single-crystal La0.8Sr0.2MnO3 by broadband microwave surface impedance measurements

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Schwartz, Andrew; Scheffler, Marc; Anlage, Steven M.

    2000-01-01

    Employing a broadband microwave reflection configuration, we have measured the complex surface impedance, ZS(ω,T), of single-crystal La0.8Sr0.2MnO3, as a function of frequency (0.045-45 GHz) and temperature (250-325 K). Through the dependence of the microwave surface impedance on the magnetic permeability, μ⁁(ω,T), we have studied the local magnetic behavior of this material, and have extracted the spontaneous magnetization, M0(T), in zero applied field. The broadband nature of these measurements and the fact that no external field is applied to the material provide a unique opportunity to analyze the critical behavior of the spontaneous magnetization at temperatures very close to the ferromagnetic phase transition. We find a Curie temperature TC=305.5+/-0.5 K and scaling exponent β=0.45+/-0.05, in agreement with the prediction of mean-field theory. We also discuss other recent determinations of the magnetization critical exponent in this and similar materials and show why our results are more definitive.

  17. AN ADVANCED CALIBRATION PROCEDURE FOR COMPLEX IMPEDANCE SPECTRUM MEASUREMENTS OF ADVANCED ENERGY STORAGE DEVICES

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    William H. Morrison; Jon P. Christophersen; Patrick Bald

    With the increasing demand for electric and hybrid electric vehicles and the explosion in popularity of mobile and portable electronic devices such as laptops, cell phones, e-readers, tablet computers and the like, reliance on portable energy storage devices such as batteries has likewise increased. The concern for the availability of critical systems in turn drives the availability of battery systems and thus the need for accurate battery health monitoring has become paramount. Over the past decade the Idaho National Laboratory (INL), Montana Tech of the University of Montana (Tech), and Qualtech Systems, Inc. (QSI) have been developing the Smart Batterymore » Status Monitor (SBSM), an integrated battery management system designed to monitor battery health, performance and degradation and use this knowledge for effective battery management and increased battery life. Key to the success of the SBSM is an in-situ impedance measurement system called the Impedance Measurement Box (IMB). One of the challenges encountered has been development of an accurate, simple, robust calibration process. This paper discusses the successful realization of this process.« less

  18. Determining bonding, thickness, and density via thermal wave impedance NDE

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Green, D. R.

    1985-01-01

    Bonding, density, and thickness of coatings have a vital effect on their performance in many applications. Pioneering development work on thermal wave nondestructive evaluation (NDE) methods during the past 25 years has resulted in an array of useful techniques for performing bonding, density, and thickness measurements in a practical shop environment. The most useful thermal wave methods for this purpose are based on thermal wave surface impedance measurement or scanning. A pulse of heat from either a thermal transducer or a hot gas pulse is projected onto the surface, and the resulting temperature response is analyzed to unfold the bonding, density, and thickness of the coating. An advanced emissivity independent infrared method was applied to detect the temperature response. These methods were recently completely computerized and can automatically provide information on coating quality in near real-time using the proper equipment. Complex shapes such as turbine blades can be scanned. Microscopic inhomogeneities such as microstructural differences and small, normal, isolated voids do not cause problems but are seen as slight differences in the bulk thermal properties. Test objects with rough surfaces can be effectively nondestructively evaluated using proper thermal surface impedance methods. Some of the basic principles involved, as well as metallographic results illustrating the ability of the thermal wave surface impedance method to detect natural nonbonds under a two-layer thermally sprayed coating, will be presented.

  19. Axolemmal and septal conduction in the impedance of the earthworm medial giant nerve fiber.

    PubMed Central

    Krause, T L; Fishman, H M; Bittner, G D

    1994-01-01

    Ionic conduction in the axolemmal and septal membranes of the medial giant fiber (MGF) of the earthworm (EW) Lumbricus terrestris was assessed by impedance spectroscopy in the frequency range 2.5-1000 Hz. Impedance loci in the complex plane were described by two semi-circular arcs, one at a lower characteristic frequency (100 Hz) and the other at a higher frequency (500 Hz). The lower frequency arc had a chord resistance of 53 k omega and was not affected by membrane potential changes or ion channel blockers [tetrodotoxin (TTX), 3,4-diaminopyridine (3,4-DAP), 4-aminopyridine (4-AP), and tetraethylammonium (TEA)]. The higher frequency arc had a chord resistance of 274 k omega at resting potential, was voltage-dependent, and was affected by the addition of TTX, 3,4-DAP, 4-AP, and TEA to the physiological EW salines. When all four blockers were added to the bathing solution, the impedance locus was described by two voltage-independent arcs. Considering the effects of these and other (i.e., Cd and Ni) ion channel blockers, we conclude that: 1) the higher frequency locus reflects conduction by voltage-sensitive ion channels in the axolemmal membrane, which contains at least four ion channels selective for sodium, calcium, and potassium (delayed rectifier and calcium-dependent), and 2) the lower frequency locus reflects voltage-insensitive channels in the septal membrane, which separates adjacent MGFs. PMID:7524713

  20. Portable bioimpedance monitor evaluation for continuous impedance measurements. Towards wearable plethysmography applications.

    PubMed

    Ferreira, J; Seoane, F; Lindecrantz, K

    2013-01-01

    Personalised Health Systems (PHS) that could benefit the life quality of the patients as well as decreasing the health care costs for society among other factors are arisen. The purpose of this paper is to study the capabilities of the System-on-Chip Impedance Network Analyser AD5933 performing high speed single frequency continuous bioimpedance measurements. From a theoretical analysis, the minimum continuous impedance estimation time was determined, and the AD5933 with a custom 4-Electrode Analog Front-End (AFE) was used to experimentally determine the maximum continuous impedance estimation frequency as well as the system impedance estimation error when measuring a 2R1C electrical circuit model. Transthoracic Electrical Bioimpedance (TEB) measurements in a healthy subject were obtained using 3M gel electrodes in a tetrapolar lateral spot electrode configuration. The obtained TEB raw signal was filtered in MATLAB to obtain the respiration and cardiogenic signals, and from the cardiogenic signal the impedance derivative signal (dZ/dt) was also calculated. The results have shown that the maximum continuous impedance estimation rate was approximately 550 measurements per second with a magnitude estimation error below 1% on 2R1C-parallel bridge measurements. The displayed respiration and cardiac signals exhibited good performance, and they could be used to obtain valuable information in some plethysmography monitoring applications. The obtained results suggest that the AD5933-based monitor could be used for the implementation of a portable and wearable Bioimpedance plethysmograph that could be used in applications such as Impedance Cardiography. These results combined with the research done in functional garments and textile electrodes might enable the implementation of PHS applications in a relatively short time from now.

  1. 3D printed e-tongue

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Gaál, Gabriel; da Silva, Tatiana A.; Gaál, Vladimir; Hensel, Rafael C.; Amaral, Lucas R.; Rodrigues, Varlei; Riul, Antonio

    2018-05-01

    Nowadays, one of the biggest issues addressed to electronic sensor fabrication is the build-up of efficient electrodes as an alternative way to the expensive, complex and multistage processes required by traditional techniques. Printed electronics arises as an interesting alternative to fulfill this task due to the simplicity and speed to stamp electrodes on various surfaces. Within this context, the Fused Deposition Modeling 3D printing is an emerging, cost-effective and alternative technology to fabricate complex structures that potentiates several fields with more creative ideas and new materials for a rapid prototyping of devices. We show here the fabrication of interdigitated electrodes using a standard home-made CoreXY 3D printer using transparent and graphene-based PLA filaments. Macro 3D printed electrodes were easily assembled within 6 minutes with outstanding reproducibility. The electrodes were also functionalized with different nanostructured thin films via dip-coating Layer-by-Layer technique to develop a 3D printed e-tongue setup. As a proof of concept, the printed e-tongue was applied to soil analysis. A control soil sample was enriched with several macro-nutrients to the plants (N, P, K, S, Mg and Ca) and the discrimination was done by electrical impedance spectroscopy of water solution of the soil samples. The data was analyzed by Principal Component Analysis and the 3D printed sensor distinguished clearly all enriched samples despite the complexity of the soil chemical composition. The 3D printed e-tongue successfully used in soil analysis encourages further investments in developing new sensory tools for precision agriculture and other fields exploiting the simplicity and flexibility offered by the 3D printing techniques.

  2. Application of non-destructive impedance-based monitoring technique for cyclic fatigue evaluation of endodontic nickel-titanium rotary instruments.

    PubMed

    Chang, Yau-Zen; Liu, Mou-Chuan; Pai, Che-An; Lin, Chun-Li; Yen, Kuang-I

    2011-06-01

    This study investigates the application of non-destructive testing based on the impedance theory in the cyclic fatigue evaluation of endodontic Ni-Ti rotary instruments. Fifty Ni-Ti ProTaper instruments were divided into five groups (n=10 in Groups A to E). Groups A to D were subjected to cyclic fatigue within an artificial canal (Group E was the control group). The mean value of the total life limit (TLL), defined as the instrument being rotated until fracture occurred was found to be 104 s in Group A. Each rotary instrument in Groups B, C and D were rotated until the tested instruments reached 80% (84 s), 60% (62 s) and 40% (42 s) of the TLL. After fatigue testing, each rotary instrument was mounted onto a custom-developed non-destructive testing device to give the tip of the instrument a progressive sideways bend in four mutually perpendicular directions to measure the corresponding impedance value (including the resistance and the reactance). The results indicated that the impedance value showed the same trend as the resistance, implying that the impedance was primarily affected by the resistance. The impedance value for the instruments in the 80% and 60% TLL groups increased by about 6 mΩ (about 7.5%) more than that of the instruments in the intact and 40% TLL groups. The SEM analysis result showed that crack striations were only found at the tip of the thread on the cracked surface of the instrument, consistent with the impedance measurements that found the impedance value of the cracked surface to be significantly different from those in other surfaces. These findings indicate that the impedance value may represent an effective parameter for evaluating the micro-structural status of Ni-Ti rotary instruments subjected to fatigue loading. Copyright © 2010 IPEM. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  3. Cross-sectional changes in lung volume measured by electrical impedance tomography are representative for the whole lung in ventilated preterm infants.

    PubMed

    van der Burg, Pauline S; Miedema, Martijn; de Jongh, Frans H; Frerichs, Inez; van Kaam, Anton H

    2014-06-01

    Electrical impedance tomography measures lung volume in a cross-sectional slice of the lung. Whether these cross-sectional volume changes are representative of the whole lung has only been investigated in adults, showing conflicting results. This study aimed to compare cross-sectional and whole lung volume changes using electrical impedance tomography and respiratory inductive plethysmography. A prospective, single-center, observational, nonrandomized study. The study was conducted in a neonatal ICU in the Netherlands. High-frequency ventilated preterm infants with respiratory distress syndrome. Cross-sectional and whole lung volume changes were continuously and simultaneously measured by, respectively, electrical impedance tomography and respiratory inductive plethysmography during a stepwise recruitment procedure. End-expiratory lung volume changes were assessed by mapping the inflation and deflation limbs using both the pressure/impedance and pressure/inductance pairs and characterized by calculating the inflection points. In addition, oscillatory tidal volume changes were assessed at each pressure step. Twenty-three infants were included in the study. Of these, eight infants had to be excluded because the quality of the registration was insufficient for analysis (two electrical impedance tomography and six respiratory inductive plethysmography). In the remaining 15 infants (gestational age 28.0 ± 2.6 wk; birth weight 1,027 ± 514 g), end-expiratory lung volume changes measured by electrical impedance tomography were significantly correlated to respiratory inductive plethysmography measurements in 12 patients (mean r = 0.93 ± 0.05). This was also true for the upper inflection point on the inflation (r = 0.91, p < 0.01) and deflation limb (r = 0.83, p < 0.01). In 13 patients, impedance and inductance data also correlated significantly on oscillatory tidal volume/pressure relationships (mean r = 0.81 ± 0.18). This study shows that cross-sectional lung volume changes measured by electrical impedance tomography are representative for the whole lung and that this concept also applies to newborn infants.

  4. Multiple frequency bioelectrical impedance analysis: a cross-validation study of the inductor circuit and Cole models.

    PubMed

    Ward, L; Cornish, B H; Paton, N I; Thomas, B J

    1999-11-01

    It has been proposed that multiple frequency bioelectrical impedance models of the human body should include an inductive property for the circulatory system, the inductor circuit model (ICM), and that such a model, when coupled with a new method of data analysis, can improve the predictive power of multiple frequency bioelectrical impedance analysis (MFBIA). This hypothesis was tested using MFBIA measurements and gold standard measures of total body and extracellular water volumes in a cross-validation study in two subject groups (viz. controls and HIV). The MFBIA measurements were analysed using the current, widely accepted Cole model and the alternative ICM model which includes an inductive component. Correlations in the range 0.75 to 0.92 (for TBW) and 0.46 to 0.79 (for ECW) for impedance quotients versus gold standard measures within the subject groups were observed. These decreased, to as low as r = 0.50 for TBW and r = 0.29 for ECW, when the derived algorithms were applied to the alternative subject group. These results suggest that lack of portability of MFBIA algorithms between subject groups is not due to an inadequacy of the analogue circuit model per se but is possibly due more to fundamental flaws in the principles associated with its application. These include assuming a constant proportionality of body segment geometries and tissue fluid resistivities. This study has also demonstrated that this inadequacy cannot be overcome by simply introducing an inductive component into the analogue electrical circuit.

  5. Dielectric relaxation in epitaxial films of paraelectric-magnetic SrTiO3-SrMnO3 solid solution

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Savinov, M.; Bovtun, V.; Tereshina-Chitrova, E.; Stupakov, A.; Dejneka, A.; Tyunina, M.

    2018-01-01

    Magneto-dielectric properties of (A2+)MnO3-type perovskites are attractive for applications and stimulate extensive studies of these materials. Here, the complex dielectric and magnetic responses are investigated as in epitaxial films of SrTi0.6Mn0.4O3, solid solution of paraelectric SrTiO3 and magnetic SrMnO3. The impedance and resonance measurements at frequencies of 10-2-1010 Hz and temperatures of 10-500 K reveal broad dielectric anomalies centered at 100-200 K, while the films are paramagnetic at all temperatures. Analysis shows polaronic electrical conductivity behind the observed behavior. Electron-phonon correlations, rather than spin-phonon correlations, are suggested to produce the apparent magneto-dielectric responses in many multiferroic manganites.

  6. Study of swelling behavior in ArF resist during development by the QCM method (3): observations of swelling layer elastic modulus

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sekiguchi, Atsushi

    2013-03-01

    The QCM method allows measurements of impedance, an index of swelling layer viscosity in a photoresist during development. While impedance is sometimes used as a qualitative index of change in the viscosity of the swelling layer, it has to date not been used quantitatively, for data analysis. We explored a method for converting impedance values to elastic modulus (Pa), a coefficient expressing viscosity. Applying this method, we compared changes in the viscosity of the swelling layer in an ArF resist generated during development in a TMAH developing solution and in a TBAH developing solution. This paper reports the results of this comparative study.

  7. High-acoustic-impedance tantalum oxide layers for insulating acoustic reflectors.

    PubMed

    Capilla, Jose; Olivares, Jimena; Clement, Marta; Sangrador, Jesús; Iborra, Enrique; Devos, Arnaud

    2012-03-01

    This work describes the assessment of the acoustic properties of sputtered tantalum oxide films intended for use as high-impedance films of acoustic reflectors for solidly mounted resonators operating in the gigahertz frequency range. The films are grown by sputtering a metallic tantalum target under different oxygen and argon gas mixtures, total pressures, pulsed dc powers, and substrate biases. The structural properties of the films are assessed through infrared absorption spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction measurements. Their acoustic impedance is assessed by deriving the mass density from X-ray reflectometry measurements and the acoustic velocity from picosecond acoustic spectroscopy and the analysis of the frequency response of the test resonators.

  8. On the long range propagation of sound over irregular terrain

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Howe, M. S.

    1984-01-01

    The theory of sound propagation over randomly irregular, nominally plane terrain of finite impedance is discussed. The analysis is an extension of the theory of coherent scatter originally proposed by Biot for an irregular rigid surface. It combines Biot's approach, wherein the surface irregularities are modeled by a homogeneous distribution of hemispherical bosses, with more conventional analyses in which the ground is modeled as a smooth plane of finite impedance. At sufficiently low frequencies the interaction of the surface irregularities with the nearfield of a ground-based source leads to the production of surface waves, which are effective in penetrating the ground shadow zone predicted for a smooth surface of the same impedance.

  9. Sputtered SiO2 as low acoustic impedance material for Bragg mirror fabrication in BAW resonators.

    PubMed

    Olivares, Jimena; Wegmann, Enrique; Capilla, José; Iborra, Enrique; Clement, Marta; Vergara, Lucía; Aigner, Robert

    2010-01-01

    In this paper we describe the procedure to sputter low acoustic impedance SiO(2) films to be used as a low acoustic impedance layer in Bragg mirrors for BAW resonators. The composition and structure of the material are assessed through infrared absorption spectroscopy. The acoustic properties of the films (mass density and sound velocity) are assessed through X-ray reflectometry and picosecond acoustic spectroscopy. A second measurement of the sound velocity is achieved through the analysis of the longitudinal lambda/2 resonance that appears in these silicon oxide films when used as uppermost layer of an acoustic reflector placed under an AlN-based resonator.

  10. Effect of thiourea on electrochemical nucleation and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy of electrodeposited tin on a copper substrate in a sulfate bath.

    PubMed

    Lee, Mi-Ri; Na, Seong-Hun; Park, Hwa-Sun; Suh, Su-Jeong

    2014-12-01

    The effect of thiourea on the electrochemical nucleation of tin on a copper substrate from a sulfate bath was studied using voltammetry, chronoamperometry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. Without thiourea, electrodeposition of tin showed very poor surface coverage. However, re-nucleation and growth of tin occurred after the addition of thiourea. In particular, very rapid re-nucleation and growth behavior of tin were observed when up to 6 g/L of thiourea was added. Furthermore, impedance analysis allowed the estimation of the change in the growth behavior of tin when up to 6 g/L of thiourea was added.

  11. Eddy current inspection of weld defects in tubing

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Katragadda, G.; Lord, W.

    1992-01-01

    An approach using differential probes for the inspection of weld defects in tubing is studied. Finite element analysis is used to model the weld regions and defects. Impedance plane signals are predicted for different weld defect types and compared wherever possible with signals from actual welds in tubing. Results show that detection and sizing of defects in tubing is possible using differential eddy current techniques. The phase angle of the impedance plane trajectory gives a good indication of the sizing of the crack. Data on the type of defect can be obtained from the shape of the impedance plane trajectory and the phase. Depending on the skin depth, detection of outer wall, inner wall, and subsurface defects is possible.

  12. Analytical theory of coherent synchrotron radiation wakefield of short bunches shielded by conducting parallel plates

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Stupakov, Gennady; Zhou, Demin

    2016-04-21

    We develop a general model of coherent synchrotron radiation (CSR) impedance with shielding provided by two parallel conducting plates. This model allows us to easily reproduce all previously known analytical CSR wakes and to expand the analysis to situations not explored before. It reduces calculations of the impedance to taking integrals along the trajectory of the beam. New analytical results are derived for the radiation impedance with shielding for the following orbits: a kink, a bending magnet, a wiggler of finite length, and an infinitely long wiggler. Furthermore, all our formulas are benchmarked against numerical simulations with the CSRZ computermore » code.« less

  13. Multi-frequency EIT system with radially symmetric architecture: KHU Mark1.

    PubMed

    Oh, Tong In; Woo, Eung Je; Holder, David

    2007-07-01

    We describe the development of a multi-frequency electrical impedance tomography (EIT) system (KHU Mark1) with a single balanced current source and multiple voltmeters. It was primarily designed for imaging brain function with a flexible strategy for addressing electrodes and a frequency range from 10 Hz-500 kHz. The maximal number of voltmeters is 64, and all of them can simultaneously acquire and demodulate voltage signals. Each voltmeter measures a differential voltage between a pair of electrodes. All voltmeters are configured in a radially symmetric architecture in order to optimize the routing of wires and minimize cross-talk. We adopted several techniques from existing EIT systems including digital waveform generation, a Howland current generator with a generalized impedance converter (GIC), digital phase-sensitive demodulation and tri-axial cables. New features of the KHU Mark1 system include multiple GIC circuits to maximize the output impedance of the current source at multiple frequencies. The voltmeter employs contact impedance measurements, data overflow detection, spike noise rejection, automatic gain control and programmable data averaging. The KHU Mark1 system measures both in-phase and quadrature components of trans-impedances. By using a script file describing an operating mode, the system setup can be easily changed. The performance of the developed multi-frequency EIT system was evaluated in terms of a common-mode rejection ratio, signal-to-noise ratio, linearity error and reciprocity error. Time-difference and frequency-difference images of a saline phantom with a banana object are presented showing a frequency-dependent complex conductivity of the banana. Future design of a more innovative system is suggested including miniaturization and wireless techniques.

  14. The practical operational-amplifier gyrator circuit for inductorless filter synthesis

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Sutherland, W. C.

    1976-01-01

    A literature is reported for gyrator circuits utilizing operational amplifiers as the active device. A gyrator is a two port nonreciprocal device with the property that the input impedance is proportional to the reciprocal of the load impedance. Following an experimental study, the gyrator circuit with optimum properties was selected for additional testing. A theoretical analysis was performed and compared to the experimental results for excellent agreement.

  15. Developing a stability assessment method for power electronics-based microgrids

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Austin, Peter M.

    Modern microgrids with microsources and energy storage are dependent on power electronics for control and regulation. Under certain circumstances power electronics can be destabilizing to the system due to an effect called negative incremental impedance. A careful review of the theory and literature on the subject is presented. This includes stability criteria for both AC and DC systems, as well as a discussion on the limitations posed by the analysis. A method to integrate stability assessment with higher-level microgrid architectural design is proposed. Crucial to this is impedance characterization of individual components, which was accomplished through simulation. DC and AC impedance measurement blocks were created in Matlab simulink to automate the process. A detailed switching-level model of a DC microgrid was implemented in simulink, including wind turbine microsource, battery storage, and three phase inverter. Maximum power point tracking (MPPT) was included to maximize the efficiency of the turbine and was implemented through three rectifier alternatives and control schemes. The stability characteristics of each was compared in the final analysis. Impedance data was collected individually from the components and used to assess stability in the system as a whole. The results included the assessment of stability, margin, and unstable operating points to demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed approach.

  16. A multi-frequency impedance analysing instrument for eddy current testing

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Yin, W.; Dickinson, S. J.; Peyton, A. J.

    2006-02-01

    This paper presents the design of a high-performance multi-frequency impedance analysing instrument (MFIA) for eddy current testing which has been developed primarily for monitoring a steel production process using an inductive sensor. The system consists of a flexible multi-frequency waveform generator and a voltage/current measurement unit. The impedance of the sensor is obtained by cross-spectral analysis of the current and voltage signals. The system contains high-speed digital-to-analogue, analogue-to-digital converters and dual DSPs with one for control and interface and one dedicated to frequency-spectra analysis using fast Fourier transformation (FFT). The frequency span of the signal that can be analysed ranges from 1 kHz to 8 MHz. The system also employs a high-speed serial port interface (USB) to communicate with a personal computer (PC) and to allow for fast transmission of data and control commands. Overall, the system is capable of delivering over 250 impedance spectra per second. Although the instrument has been developed mainly for use with an inductive sensor, the system is not restricted to inductive measurement. The flexibility of the design architecture is demonstrated with capacitive and resistive measurements by using appropriate input circuitry. Issues relating to optimizing the phase of the spectra components in the excitation waveform are also discussed.

  17. Impedance microflow cytometry for viability studies of microorganisms

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Di Berardino, Marco; Hebeisen, Monika; Hessler, Thomas; Ziswiler, Adrian; Largiadèr, Stephanie; Schade, Grit

    2011-02-01

    Impedance-based Coulter counters and its derivatives are widely used cell analysis tools in many laboratories and use normally DC or low frequency AC to perform these electrical analyses. The emergence of micro-fabrication technologies in the last decade, however, provides a new means of measuring electrical properties of cells. Microfluidic approaches combined with impedance spectroscopy measurements in the radio frequency (RF) range increase sensitivity and information content and thus push single cell analyses beyond simple cell counting and sizing applications towards multiparametric cell characterization. Promising results have been shown already in the fields of cell differentiation and blood analysis. Here we emphasize the potential of this technology by presenting new data obtained from viability studies on microorganisms. Impedance measurements of several yeast and bacteria strains performed at frequencies around 10 MHz enable an easy discrimination between dead and viable cells. Moreover, cytotoxic effects of antibiotics and other reagents, as well as cell starvation can also be monitored easily. Control analyses performed with conventional flow cytometers using various fluorescent dyes (propidium iodide, oxonol) indicate a good correlation and further highlight the capability of this device. The label-free approach makes on the one hand the use of usually expensive fluorochromes obsolete, on the other hand practically eliminates laborious sample preparation procedures. Until now, online cell monitoring was limited to the determination of viable biomass, which provides rather poor information of a cell culture. Impedance microflow cytometry, besides other aspects, proposes a simple solution to these limitations and might become an important tool for bioprocess monitoring applications in the biotech industry.

  18. Analysis of arrhythmic events is useful to detect lead failure earlier in patients followed by remote monitoring.

    PubMed

    Nishii, Nobuhiro; Miyoshi, Akihito; Kubo, Motoki; Miyamoto, Masakazu; Morimoto, Yoshimasa; Kawada, Satoshi; Nakagawa, Koji; Watanabe, Atsuyuki; Nakamura, Kazufumi; Morita, Hiroshi; Ito, Hiroshi

    2018-03-01

    Remote monitoring (RM) has been advocated as the new standard of care for patients with cardiovascular implantable electronic devices (CIEDs). RM has allowed the early detection of adverse clinical events, such as arrhythmia, lead failure, and battery depletion. However, lead failure was often identified only by arrhythmic events, but not impedance abnormalities. To compare the usefulness of arrhythmic events with conventional impedance abnormalities for identifying lead failure in CIED patients followed by RM. CIED patients in 12 hospitals have been followed by the RM center in Okayama University Hospital. All transmitted data have been analyzed and summarized. From April 2009 to March 2016, 1,873 patients have been followed by the RM center. During the mean follow-up period of 775 days, 42 lead failure events (atrial lead 22, right ventricular pacemaker lead 5, implantable cardioverter defibrillator [ICD] lead 15) were detected. The proportion of lead failures detected only by arrhythmic events, which were not detected by conventional impedance abnormalities, was significantly higher than that detected by impedance abnormalities (arrhythmic event 76.2%, 95% CI: 60.5-87.9%; impedance abnormalities 23.8%, 95% CI: 12.1-39.5%). Twenty-seven events (64.7%) were detected without any alert. Of 15 patients with ICD lead failure, none has experienced inappropriate therapy. RM can detect lead failure earlier, before clinical adverse events. However, CIEDs often diagnose lead failure as just arrhythmic events without any warning. Thus, to detect lead failure earlier, careful human analysis of arrhythmic events is useful. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  19. Influence of acoustic impedance of multilayer acoustic systems on the transfer function of ultrasonic airborne transducers.

    PubMed

    Gudra, Tadeusz; Opieliński, Krzysztof J

    2002-05-01

    In different solutions of ultrasonic transducers radiating acoustic energy into the air there occurs the problem of the proper selection of the acoustic impedance of one or more matching layers. The goal of this work was a computer analysis of the influence of acoustic impedance on the transfer function of piezoceramic transducers equipped with matching layers. Cases of resonance and non-resonance matching impedance in relation to the transfer function and the energy transmission coefficient for solid state-air systems were analysed. With stable thickness of matching layers the required shape of the transfer function can be obtained through proper choice of acoustic impedance were built (e.g. maximal flat function). The proper choice of acoustic impedance requires an elaboration of precise methods of synthesis of matching systems. Using the known matching criteria (Chebyshev's, DeSilets', Souquet's), the transfer function characteristics of transducers equipped with one, two, and three matching layers as well as the optimisation methods of the energy transmission coefficient were presented. The influence of the backside load of the transducer on the shape of transfer function was also analysed. The calculation results of this function for different loads of the transducer backside without and with the different matching layers were presented. The proper load selection allows us to obtain the desired shape of the transfer function, which determines the pulse shape generated by the transducer.

  20. Discriminating movements of liquid and gas in the rabbit colon with impedance manometry.

    PubMed

    Mohd Rosli, R; Leibbrandt, R E; Wiklendt, L; Costa, M; Wattchow, D A; Spencer, N J; Brookes, S J; Omari, T I; Dinning, P G

    2018-05-01

    High-resolution impedance manometry is a technique that is well established in esophageal motility studies for relating motor patterns to bolus flow. The use of this technique in the colon has not been established. In isolated segments of rabbit proximal colon, we recorded motor patterns and the movement of liquid or gas boluses with a high-resolution impedance manometry catheter. These detected movements were compared to video recorded changes in gut diameter. Using the characteristic shapes of the admittance (inverse of impedance) and pressure signals associated with gas or liquid flow we developed a computational algorithm for the automated detection of these events. Propagating contractions detected by video were also recorded by manometry and impedance. Neither pressure nor admittance signals alone could distinguish between liquid and gas transit, however the precise relationship between admittance and pressure signals during bolus flow could. Training our computational algorithm upon these characteristic shapes yielded a detection accuracy of 87.7% when compared to gas or liquid bolus events detected by manual analysis. Characterizing the relationship between both admittance and pressure recorded with high-resolution impedance manometry can not only help in detecting luminal transit in real time, but also distinguishes between liquid and gaseous content. This technique holds promise for determining the propulsive nature of human colonic motor patterns. © 2017 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

  1. Use of Electrical Impedance Tomography to Monitor Regional Cerebral Edema during Clinical Dehydration Treatment

    PubMed Central

    Hu, Shi-Jie; Li, Xia; Xu, Can-Hua; Wang, Bing; Yang, Bin; Tang, Meng-Xing; Dong, Xiu-Zhen; Fei, Zhou; Shi, Xue-Tao

    2014-01-01

    Objective Variations of conductive fluid content in brain tissue (e.g. cerebral edema) change tissue impedance and can potentially be measured by Electrical Impedance Tomography (EIT), an emerging medical imaging technique. The objective of this work is to establish the feasibility of using EIT as an imaging tool for monitoring brain fluid content. Design a prospective study. Setting In this study EIT was used, for the first time, to monitor variations in cerebral fluid content in a clinical model with patients undergoing clinical dehydration treatment. The EIT system was developed in house and its imaging sensitivity and spatial resolution were evaluated on a saline-filled tank. Patients 23 patients with brain edema. Interventions The patients were continuously imaged by EIT for two hours after initiation of dehydration treatment using 0.5 g/kg intravenous infusion of mannitol for 20 minutes. Measurement and Main Results Overall impedance across the brain increased significantly before and after mannitol dehydration treatment (p = 0.0027). Of the all 23 patients, 14 showed high-level impedance increase and maintained this around 4 hours after the dehydration treatment whereas the other 9 also showed great impedance gain during the treatment but it gradually decreased after the treatment. Further analysis of the regions of interest in the EIT images revealed that diseased regions, identified on corresponding CT images, showed significantly less impedance changes than normal regions during the monitoring period, indicating variations in different patients' responses to such treatment. Conclusions EIT shows potential promise as an imaging tool for real-time and non-invasive monitoring of brain edema patients. PMID:25474474

  2. Design of current source for multi-frequency simultaneous electrical impedance tomography

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Han, Bing; Xu, Yanbin; Dong, Feng

    2017-09-01

    Multi-frequency electrical impedance tomography has been evolving from the frequency-sweep approach to the multi-frequency simultaneous measurement technique which can reduce measuring time and will be increasingly attractive for time-varying biological applications. The accuracy and stability of the current source are the key factors determining the quality of the image reconstruction. This article presents a field programmable gate array-based current source for a multi-frequency simultaneous electrical impedance tomography system. A novel current source circuit was realized by combining the classic current mirror based on the feedback amplifier AD844 with a differential topology. The optimal phase offsets of harmonic sinusoids were obtained through the crest factor analysis. The output characteristics of this current source were evaluated by simulation and actual measurement. The results include the following: (1) the output impedance was compared with one of the Howland pump circuit in simulation, showing comparable performance at low frequencies. However, the proposed current source makes lower demands for resistor tolerance but performs even better at high frequencies. (2) The output impedance in actual measurement below 200 kHz is above 1.3 MΩ and can reach 250 KΩ up to 1 MHz. (3) An experiment based on a biological RC model has been implemented. The mean error for the demodulated impedance amplitude and phase are 0.192% and 0.139°, respectively. Therefore, the proposed current source is wideband, biocompatible, and high precision, which demonstrates great potential to work as a sub-system in the multi-frequency electrical impedance tomography system.

  3. Extended aeroelastic analysis for helicopter rotors with prescribed hub motion and blade appended penduluum vibration absorbers

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Bielawa, R. L.

    1984-01-01

    The mathematical development for the expanded capabilities of the G400 rotor aeroelastic analysis was examined. The G400PA expanded analysis simulates the dynamics of all conventional rotors, blade pendulum vibration absorbers, and the higher harmonic excitations resulting from prescribed vibratory hub motions and higher harmonic blade pitch control. The methodology for modeling the unsteady stalled airloads of two dimensional airfoils is discussed. Formulations for calculating the rotor impedance matrix appropriate to the higher harmonic blade excitations are outlined. This impedance matrix, and the associated vibratory hub loads, are the rotor dynamic characteristic elements for use in the simplified coupled rotor/fuselage vibration analysis (SIMVIB). Updates to the development of the original G400 theory, program documentation, user instructions and information are presented.

  4. Sensorless battery temperature measurements based on electrochemical impedance spectroscopy

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Raijmakers, L. H. J.; Danilov, D. L.; van Lammeren, J. P. M.; Lammers, M. J. G.; Notten, P. H. L.

    2014-02-01

    A new method is proposed to measure the internal temperature of (Li-ion) batteries. Based on electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements, an intercept frequency (f0) can be determined which is exclusively related to the internal battery temperature. The intercept frequency is defined as the frequency at which the imaginary part of the impedance is zero (Zim = 0), i.e. where the phase shift between the battery current and voltage is absent. The advantage of the proposed method is twofold: (i) no hardware temperature sensors are required anymore to monitor the battery temperature and (ii) the method does not suffer from heat transfer delays. Mathematical analysis of the equivalent electrical-circuit, representing the battery performance, confirms that the intercept frequency decreases with rising temperatures. Impedance measurements on rechargeable Li-ion cells of various chemistries were conducted to verify the proposed method. These experiments reveal that the intercept frequency is clearly dependent on the temperature and does not depend on State-of-Charge (SoC) and aging. These impedance-based sensorless temperature measurements are therefore simple and convenient for application in a wide range of stationary, mobile and high-power devices, such as hybrid- and full electric vehicles.

  5. Non-Contact EDDY Current Hole Eccentricity and Diameter Measurement

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Chern, E. James

    1998-01-01

    Precision holes are among the most critical features of a mechanical component. Deviations from permissible tolerances can impede operation and result in unexpected failure. We have developed an automated non-contact eddy current hole diameter and eccentricity measuring system. The operating principle is based on the eddy current lift-off effect, which is the coil impedance as a function of the distance between the coil and the test object. An absolute eddy current probe rotates in the hole. The impedance of each angular position is acquired and input to the computer for integration and analysis. The eccentricity of the hole is the profile of the impedance as a function of angular position as compared to a straight line, an ideal hole. The diameter of the hole is the sum of the diameter of the probe and twice the distance-calibrated impedance. An eddy current image is generated by integrating angular scans for a plurality of depths between the top and bottom to display the eccentricity profile. This system can also detect and image defects in the hole. The method for non-contact eddy current hole diameter and eccentricity measurement has been granted a patent by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

  6. Highly sensitive three-dimensional interdigitated microelectrode for microparticle detection using electrical impedance spectroscopy

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Chang, Fu-Yu; Chen, Ming-Kun; Wang, Min-Haw; Jang, Ling-Sheng

    2016-02-01

    Cell impedance analysis is widely used for monitoring biological and medical reactions. In this study, a highly sensitive three-dimensional (3D) interdigitated microelectrode (IME) with a high aspect ratio on a polyimide (PI) flexible substrate was fabricated for microparticle detection (e.g. cell quantity detection) using electroforming and lithography technology. 3D finite element simulations were performed to compare the performance of the 3D IME (in terms of sensitivity and signal-to-noise ratio) to that of a planar IME for particles in the sensing area. Various quantities of particles were captured in Dulbecco’s modified Eagle medium and their impedances were measured. With the 3D IME, the particles were arranged in the gap, not on the electrode, avoiding the noise due to particle position. For the maximum particle quantities, the results show that the 3D IME has at least 5-fold higher sensitivity than that of the planar IME. The trends of impedance magnitude and phase due to particle quantity were verified using the equivalent circuit model. The impedance (1269 Ω) of 69 particles was used to estimate the particle quantity (68 particles) with 98.6% accuracy using a parabolic regression curve at 500 kHz.

  7. Nutritional status and body composition by bioelectrical impedance vector analysis: A cross sectional study in mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease.

    PubMed

    Cova, Ilaria; Pomati, Simone; Maggiore, Laura; Forcella, Marica; Cucumo, Valentina; Ghiretti, Roberta; Grande, Giulia; Muzio, Fulvio; Mariani, Claudio

    2017-01-01

    Analysis of nutritional status and body composition in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). A cross-sectional study was performed in a University-Hospital setting, recruiting 59 patients with AD, 34 subjects with MCI and 58 elderly healthy controls (HC). Nutritional status was assessed by anthropometric parameters (body mass index; calf, upper arm and waist circumferences), Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) and body composition by bioelectrical impedance vector analysis (BIVA). Variables were analyzed by analysis of variance and subjects were grouped by cognitive status and gender. Sociodemographic variables did not differ among the three groups (AD, MCI and HC), except for females' age, which was therefore used as covariate in a general linear multivariate model. MNA score was significantly lower in AD patients than in HC; MCI subjects achieved intermediate scores. AD patients (both sexes) had significantly (p<0.05) higher height-normalized impedance values and lower phase angles (body cell mass) compared with HC; a higher ratio of impedance to height was found in men with MCI with respect to HC. With BIVA method, MCI subjects showed a significant displacement on the RXc graph on the right side indicating lower soft tissues (Hotelling's T2 test: men = 10.6; women = 7.9;p < 0,05) just like AD patients (Hotelling's T2 test: men = 18.2; women = 16.9; p<0,001). Bioelectrical parameters significantly differ from MCI and AD to HC; MCI showed an intermediate pattern between AD and HC. Longitudinal studies are required to investigate if BIVA could reflect early AD-changes in body composition in subjects with MCI.

  8. Evaluation of the platelet counting by Abbott CELL-DYN SAPPHIRE haematology analyser compared with flow cytometry.

    PubMed

    Grimaldi, E; Del Vecchio, L; Scopacasa, F; Lo Pardo, C; Capone, F; Pariante, S; Scalia, G; De Caterina, M

    2009-04-01

    The Abbot Cell-Dyn Sapphire is a new generation haematology analyser. The system uses optical/fluorescence flow cytometry in combination with electronic impedance to produce a full blood count. Optical and impedance are the default methods for platelet counting while automated CD61-immunoplatelet analysis can be run as selectable test. The aim of this study was to determine the platelet count performance of the three counting methods available on the instrument and to compare the results with those provided by Becton Dickinson FACSCalibur flow cytometer used as reference method. A lipid interference experiment was also performed. Linearity, carryover and precision were good, and satisfactory agreement with reference method was found for the impedance, optical and CD61-immunoplatelet analysis, although this latter provided the closest results in comparison with flow cytometry. In the lipid interference experiment, a moderate inaccuracy of optical and immunoplatelet counts was observed starting from a very high lipid value.

  9. Gender differences and age-related changes in body fat mass in Tibetan children and teenagers: an analysis by the bioelectrical impedance method.

    PubMed

    Zhang, Hai-Long; Fu, Qiang; Li, Wen-Hui; Liu, Su-Wei; Zhong, Hua; Duoji, Bai-Ma; Zhang, Mei-Zhi; Lv, Po; Xi, Huan-Jiu

    2015-01-01

    We aimed to obtain the fat base value and the fat distribution characteristics of Tibetan children and teenagers by estimating their body fat content with the bioelectrical impedance method. We recruited 1427 healthy children and teenagers by a stratified cluster sampling method. By using bioelectrical impedance analysis, we obtained various values relevant to fat. We found that total body fat mass and the fat mass of various body parts increased with age in boys and girls. Yet there were no differences between age groups until 11 years. However, fat mass increased quickly between 11 and 18 years, and significant differences were seen between adolescent boys and girls; all fat indices were higher in girls than in boys (p<0.05). The characteristics of fat in Tibetan children and teenagers in Tibet is related to age and gender related hormone secretion, which reflects the physiological characteristics in different developmental stages.

  10. Studies Relative to the Radiosensitivity of Man: Based on Retrospective Evaluations of Therapeutic and Accidental Total-Body Irradiation

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Ricks, R. C. (Compiler); Lushbaugh, C. C. (Compiler)

    1975-01-01

    The radiobiologic studies carried out with joint (AEC) ERDA and NASA support during the years 1964 to 1974 at the Medical Division of Oak Ridge Associated Universities are presented. The physiologic data generated were similar in many ways to those previously observed in other medical radiobiologic experiences. They differed, however, in the methods of data acquisition and analysis. Instead of more conventional analytical methods, pulmonary impedance was recorded and quantitated as a measure of radiation-induced gastrointestinal distress and fatiguability. While refinements in dose response related to gastrointestinal distress were accomplished, it was also found that through the use of Fourier analysis of pulmonary impedance waveform GI distress could easily be recognized and quantified even when the initial stages of nausea were below the subjects subjective level of recognition. The results demonstrate that change in pulmonary impedance waveform closely parallel well-defined stages of GI distress, i.e., initial nausea, a progressive increase in nausea, and finally vomiting episodes.

  11. Evaluation of Thymus vulgaris plant extract as an eco-friendly corrosion inhibitor for stainless steel 304 in acidic solution by means of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, electrochemical noise analysis and density functional theory.

    PubMed

    Ehsani, A; Mahjani, M G; Hosseini, M; Safari, R; Moshrefi, R; Mohammad Shiri, H

    2017-03-15

    Inhibition performance of Thymus vulgaris plant leaves extract (thyme) as environmentally friendly (green) inhibitor for the corrosion protection of stainless steel (SS) type 304 in 1.0molL -1 HCl solution was studied by potentiodynamic polarization, electrochemical impedance (EIS) and electrochemical noise measurements (EN) techniques. The EN data were analyzed with FFT technique to make the spectral power density plots. The calculations were performed by MATLAB 2014a software. Geometry optimization and calculation of the structural and electronic properties of the molecular system of inhibitor have been carried out using UB3LYP/6-311++G ∗∗ level. Moreover, the results obtained from electrochemical noise analysis were compared with potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. All of the used techniques showed positive effect of green inhibitor with increasing inhibitor concentration. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  12. Ending College Remediation: Consequences for Access and Opportunity. Policy Brief. ASHE/Lumina Fellows Series. Issue 2

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Parker, Tara L.

    2007-01-01

    To what extent does eliminating remedial education impede or facilitate the opportunity to earn bachelor's degrees for underprepared students? Educating underprepared students is often viewed as one of the most challenging and complex issues facing higher education today. Recent policy decisions to end remedial education, however, signify a much…

  13. Complexity in Dioryctria zimmermani Species Group: Incongruence Between Species Limits and Molecular Diversity

    Treesearch

    Amanda D. Roe; Daniel R. Miller; Susan J. Weller

    2011-01-01

    Dioryctria (Zeller 1846) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae: Phycitinae) moths, commonlyknown as coneworms, are a group of important coniferous pests. InterspeciÞc overlap of molecular, morphological, and behavioral traits has made identiÞcation and delimitation of these species problematic, impeding their management and control. In particular, delimitation of members of the...

  14. Collaboration The Key To: Defining Entry Level Competencies for Public Child Welfare Workers Serving Indian Communities.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Gonzalez-Santin, Edwin; And Others

    The rural environment in which most Indian tribal human service personnel work impedes the access of paraprofessional staff to professional education programs that will enable them to expand their theoretical knowledge, enhance their practical skills, and advance their careers. Each day, child welfare workers encounter complex tasks that require…

  15. Fault detection techniques for complex cable shield topologies

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Coonrod, Kurt H.; Davis, Stuart L.; McLemore, Donald P.

    1994-09-01

    This document presents the results of a basic principles study which investigated technical approaches for developing fault detection techniques for use on cables with complex shielding topologies. The study was limited to those approaches which could realistically be implemented on a fielded cable, i.e., approaches which would require partial disassembly of a cable were not pursued. The general approach used was to start with present transfer impedance measurement techniques and modify their use to achieve the best possible measurement range. An alternative test approach, similar to a sniffer type test, was also investigated.

  16. Complex Impedance, DSC and Lithium-7 NMR Studies of Poly(propylene oxide) Complexed with LiN(SO2CF3)2 and with LiAsF6

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1994-01-01

    re- plexes. This feature is commonly observed when the moved by room temperature evaporation under par- heating rate is different from previous cooling...It is apparent from fig. 1 that some shallow teflon dishes. Prior to use, the acetonitrile overshoot (an apparent endotherm ) is observed just was...or tial vacuum ( - 20 mm) and the final preparation heating rates that the material has experienced. Con- step consisted of heating the samples to

  17. Ionic conductivity and mixed-ion effect in mixed alkali metaphosphate glasses.

    PubMed

    Tsuchida, Jefferson Esquina; Ferri, Fabio Aparecido; Pizani, Paulo Sergio; Martins Rodrigues, Ana Candida; Kundu, Swarup; Schneider, José Fabián; Zanotto, Edgar Dutra

    2017-03-01

    In this work, mixed alkali metaphosphate glasses based on K-Na, Rb-Na, Rb-Li, Cs-Na and Cs-Li combinations were studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), complex impedance spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy. DSC analyses show that both the glass transition (T g ) and melting temperatures (T m ) exhibit a clear mixed-ion effect. The ionic conductivity shows a strong mixed-ion effect and decreases by more than six orders of magnitude at room temperature for Rb-Na or Cs-Li alkali pairs. This study confirms that the mixed-ion effect may be explained as a natural consequence of random ion mixing because ion transport is favoured between well-matched energy sites and is impeded due to the structural mismatch between neighbouring sites for dissimilar ions.

  18. Estimation of Metabolism Characteristics for Heat-Injured Bacteria Using Dielectrophoretic Impedance Measurement Method

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Amako, Eri; Enjoji, Takaharu; Uchida, Satoshi; Tochikubo, Fumiyoshi

    Constant monitoring and immediate control of fermentation processes have been required for advanced quality preservation in food industry. In the present work, simple estimation of metabolic states for heat-injured Escherichia coli (E. coli) in a micro-cell was investigated using dielectrophoretic impedance measurement (DEPIM) method. Temporal change in the conductance between micro-gap (ΔG) was measured for various heat treatment temperatures. In addition, the dependence of enzyme activity, growth capacity and membrane situation for E. coli on heat treatment temperature was also analyzed with conventional biological methods. Consequently, a correlation between ΔG and those biological properties was obtained quantitatively. This result suggests that DEPIM method will be available for an effective monitoring technique for complex change in various biological states of microorganisms.

  19. Electrical Properties Assessed by Bioelectrical Impedance Spectroscopy as Biomarkers of Age-related Loss of Skeletal Muscle Quantity and Quality.

    PubMed

    Yamada, Yosuke; Buehring, Bjoern; Krueger, Diane; Anderson, Rozalyn M; Schoeller, Dale A; Binkley, Neil

    2017-09-01

    Skeletal muscle, in addition to being comprised of a heterogeneous muscle fiber population, also includes extracellular components that do not contribute to positive tensional force production. Here we test segmental bioelectrical impedance spectroscopy (S-BIS) to assess muscle intracellular mass and composition. S-BIS can evaluate electrical properties that may be related to muscle force production. Muscle fiber membranes separate the intracellular components from the extracellular environment and consist of lipid bilayers which act as an electrical capacitor. We found that S-BIS measures accounted for ~85% of the age-related decrease in appendicular muscle power compared with only ~49% for dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) measures. Indices of extracellular (noncontractile) and cellular (contractile) compartments in skeletal muscle tissues were determined using the Cole-Cole plot from S-BIS measures. Characteristic frequency, membrane capacitance, and phase angle determined by Cole-Cole analysis together presented a S-BIS complex model that explained ~79% of interindividual variance of leg muscle power. This finding underscores the value of S-BIS to measure muscle composition rather than lean mass as measured by DXA and suggests that S-BIS should be highly informative in skeletal muscle physiology. © The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The Gerontological Society of America. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

  20. Impedance Analysis of Thin Films of Organic-Inorganic Perovskites CH3NH3PbI3 with Control of Microstructure

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    V'yunov, Oleg; Belous, Anatolii; Kobylianska, Sofiia; Kovalenko, Leonid

    2018-04-01

    The effect of starting reagents (PbI2:{CH3NH3I + CH3NH3Cl}) with different ratios in raw solutions on the microstructure of films of organic-inorganic perovskites CH3NH3PbI3-xClx, as well as on the electrical properties, has been investigated. It was found that the crystallinity is increased sharply when the ratio of the starting reagents increases from 1:1 to 1:2 and is changed slightly with a further increase of ratio to 1:3. It is shown that when the ratio of starting reagents varies, the morphology of the films changes; at a ratio of 1:1, the films consist of needle-like particles, and when the ratio is increased, particles become roundish and then faceted. Additionally, the average grain size is decreased. Complex impedance curves and I-V curves have been investigated for samples with different ratios of the starting reagents. With increasing this ratio, the concentration of charge carriers remains unchanged, the mobility of charge carriers decreases, and conductivity passes through a maximum at a ratio of 1:2. The electrical properties of film are the highest at the ratio of starting reagents 1:2 due to the effect of two competing factors: the growth of crystallinity and the decrease of grain size.

  1. Electric dipole radiation at VLF in a uniform warm magneto-plasma.

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Wang, T. N. C.; Bell, T. F.

    1972-01-01

    Use of a linear full electromagnetic wave theory to calculate the input impedance of an electric antenna embedded in a uniform, lossless, unbounded warm magnetoplasma, which is assumed to consist of warm electrons and cold ions. In calculating the dipole radiation resistance for the thermal modes and the thermally modified whistler mode the analysis includes the finite temperature only for the electrons. In deriving the formal solution of the warm plasma dipole input impedance a full-wave analysis is used and two antenna orientations are considered, parallel and perpendicular to the static magnetic field. A general dispersion equation governing the modes of propagation is derived and a detailed analysis is made of the propagation characteristics of these modes.

  2. Design of broadband time-domain impedance boundary conditions using the oscillatory-diffusive representation of acoustical models.

    PubMed

    Monteghetti, Florian; Matignon, Denis; Piot, Estelle; Pascal, Lucas

    2016-09-01

    A methodology to design broadband time-domain impedance boundary conditions (TDIBCs) from the analysis of acoustical models is presented. The derived TDIBCs are recast exclusively as first-order differential equations, well-suited for high-order numerical simulations. Broadband approximations are yielded from an elementary linear least squares optimization that is, for most models, independent of the absorbing material geometry. This methodology relies on a mathematical technique referred to as the oscillatory-diffusive (or poles and cuts) representation, and is applied to a wide range of acoustical models, drawn from duct acoustics and outdoor sound propagation, which covers perforates, semi-infinite ground layers, as well as cavities filled with a porous medium. It is shown that each of these impedance models leads to a different TDIBC. Comparison with existing numerical models, such as multi-pole or extended Helmholtz resonator, provides insights into their suitability. Additionally, the broadly-applicable fractional polynomial impedance models are analyzed using fractional calculus.

  3. Imaging fast electrical activity in the brain with electrical impedance tomography

    PubMed Central

    Aristovich, Kirill Y.; Packham, Brett C.; Koo, Hwan; Santos, Gustavo Sato dos; McEvoy, Andy; Holder, David S.

    2016-01-01

    Imaging of neuronal depolarization in the brain is a major goal in neuroscience, but no technique currently exists that could image neural activity over milliseconds throughout the whole brain. Electrical impedance tomography (EIT) is an emerging medical imaging technique which can produce tomographic images of impedance changes with non-invasive surface electrodes. We report EIT imaging of impedance changes in rat somatosensory cerebral cortex with a resolution of 2 ms and < 200 μm during evoked potentials using epicortical arrays with 30 electrodes. Images were validated with local field potential recordings and current source-sink density analysis. Our results demonstrate that EIT can image neural activity in a volume 7 × 5 × 2 mm in somatosensory cerebral cortex with reduced invasiveness, greater resolution and imaging volume than other methods. Modeling indicates similar resolutions are feasible throughout the entire brain so this technique, uniquely, has the potential to image functional connectivity of cortical and subcortical structures. PMID:26348559

  4. Bioelectrical impedance analysis of bovine milk fat

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Veiga, E. A.; Bertemes-Filho, P.

    2012-12-01

    Three samples of 250ml at home temperature of 20°C were obtained from whole, low fat and fat free bovine UHT milk. They were analysed by measuring both impedance spectra and dc conductivity in order to establish the relationship between samples related to fat content. An impedance measuring system was developed, which is based on digital oscilloscope, a current source and a FPGA. Data was measured by the oscilloscope in the frequency 1 kHz to 100 kHz. It was showed that there is approximately 7.9% difference in the conductivity between whole and low fat milk whereas 15.9% between low fat and free fat one. The change of fatness in the milk can be significantly sensed by both impedance spectra measurements and dc conductivity. This result might be useful for detecting fat content of milk in a very simple way and also may help the development of sensors for measuring milk quality, as for example the detection of mastitis.

  5. Locating damage using integrated global-local approach with wireless sensing system and single-chip impedance measurement device.

    PubMed

    Lin, Tzu-Hsuan; Lu, Yung-Chi; Hung, Shih-Lin

    2014-01-01

    This study developed an integrated global-local approach for locating damage on building structures. A damage detection approach with a novel embedded frequency response function damage index (NEFDI) was proposed and embedded in the Imote2.NET-based wireless structural health monitoring (SHM) system to locate global damage. Local damage is then identified using an electromechanical impedance- (EMI-) based damage detection method. The electromechanical impedance was measured using a single-chip impedance measurement device which has the advantages of small size, low cost, and portability. The feasibility of the proposed damage detection scheme was studied with reference to a numerical example of a six-storey shear plane frame structure and a small-scale experimental steel frame. Numerical and experimental analysis using the integrated global-local SHM approach reveals that, after NEFDI indicates the approximate location of a damaged area, the EMI-based damage detection approach can then identify the detailed damage location in the structure of the building.

  6. Antenna pattern control using impedance surfaces

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Balanis, Constantine A.; Liu, Kefeng

    1992-01-01

    During this research period, we have effectively transferred existing computer codes from CRAY supercomputer to work station based systems. The work station based version of our code preserved the accuracy of the numerical computations while giving a much better turn-around time than the CRAY supercomputer. Such a task relieved us of the heavy dependence of the supercomputer account budget and made codes developed in this research project more feasible for applications. The analysis of pyramidal horns with impedance surfaces was our major focus during this research period. Three different modeling algorithms in analyzing lossy impedance surfaces were investigated and compared with measured data. Through this investigation, we discovered that a hybrid Fourier transform technique, which uses the eigen mode in the stepped waveguide section and the Fourier transformed field distributions across the stepped discontinuities for lossy impedances coating, gives a better accuracy in analyzing lossy coatings. After a further refinement of the present technique, we will perform an accurate radiation pattern synthesis in the coming reporting period.

  7. Complex and elementary histological scoring systems for articular cartilage repair.

    PubMed

    Orth, Patrick; Madry, Henning

    2015-08-01

    The repair of articular cartilage defects is increasingly moving into the focus of experimental and clinical investigations. Histological analysis is the gold standard for a valid and objective evaluation of cartilaginous repair tissue and predominantly relies on the use of established scoring systems. In the past three decades, numerous elementary and complex scoring systems have been described and modified, including those of O'Driscoll, Pineda, Wakitani, Sellers and Fortier for entire defects as well as those according to the International Cartilage Repair Society (ICRS-I/II) for osteochondral tissue biopsies. Yet, this coexistence of different grading scales inconsistently addressing diverse parameters may impede comparability between reported study outcomes. Furthermore, validation of these histological scoring systems has only seldom been performed to date. The aim of this review is (1) to give a comprehensive overview and to compare the most important established histological scoring systems for articular cartilage repair, (2) to describe their specific advantages and pitfalls, and (3) to provide valid recommendations for their use in translational and clinical studies of articular cartilage repair.

  8. Regional Decentralisation in the Greek Health Care System: Rhetoric and Reality

    PubMed Central

    Athanasiadis, Athanasios; Kostopoulou, Stella; Philalithis, Anastas

    2015-01-01

    Decentralisation is a complex, yet basic feature of health care systems in many countries entailing the transfer of authority or dispersal of power in public planning, management and decision making from higher to lower levels of government. This paper describes the attempts made in Greece from 1923 until today to decentralise its highly centralised health care system, drawing on a thorough documentary analysis of legislative acts and official reports regarding regional health policy. The analysis shows that, although decentralisation has been attempted on several occasions, in the end it was abandoned every time. The first ever implementation of a decentralised system of governance in 2001 was also curtailed, resulting in only minor decentralisation of authority and real powers. It is suggested that decentralisation has been impeded by many factors, especially obstruction by opposition from key interest groups, absence of policy continuity between governments, the inability to tackle the bureaucratic and highly centralised system and lack of political will. PMID:26153163

  9. DEApp: an interactive web interface for differential expression analysis of next generation sequence data.

    PubMed

    Li, Yan; Andrade, Jorge

    2017-01-01

    A growing trend in the biomedical community is the use of Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) technologies in genomics research. The complexity of downstream differential expression (DE) analysis is however still challenging, as it requires sufficient computer programing and command-line knowledge. Furthermore, researchers often need to evaluate and visualize interactively the effect of using differential statistical and error models, assess the impact of selecting different parameters and cutoffs, and finally explore the overlapping consensus of cross-validated results obtained with different methods. This represents a bottleneck that slows down or impedes the adoption of NGS technologies in many labs. We developed DEApp, an interactive and dynamic web application for differential expression analysis of count based NGS data. This application enables models selection, parameter tuning, cross validation and visualization of results in a user-friendly interface. DEApp enables labs with no access to full time bioinformaticians to exploit the advantages of NGS applications in biomedical research. This application is freely available at https://yanli.shinyapps.io/DEAppand https://gallery.shinyapps.io/DEApp.

  10. Bioimpedance Harmonic Analysis as a Diagnostic Tool to Assess Regional Circulation and Neural Activity

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Mudraya, I. S.; Revenko, S. V.; Khodyreva, L. A.; Markosyan, T. G.; Dudareva, A. A.; Ibragimov, A. R.; Romich, V. V.; Kirpatovsky, V. I.

    2013-04-01

    The novel technique based on harmonic analysis of bioimpedance microvariations with original hard- and software complex incorporating a high-resolution impedance converter was used to assess the neural activity and circulation in human urinary bladder and penis in patients with pelvic pain, erectile dysfunction, and overactive bladder. The therapeutic effects of shock wave therapy and Botulinum toxin detrusor injections were evaluated quantitatively according to the spectral peaks at low 0.1 Hz frequency (M for Mayer wave), respiratory (R) and cardiac (C) rhythms with their harmonics. Enhanced baseline regional neural activity identified according to M and R peaks was found to be presumably sympathetic in pelvic pain patients, and parasympathetic - in patients with overactive bladder. Total pulsatile activity and pulsatile resonances found in the bladder as well as in the penile spectrum characterised regional circulation and vascular tone. The abnormal spectral parameters characteristic of the patients with genitourinary diseases shifted to the norm in the cases of efficient therapy. Bioimpedance harmonic analysis seems to be a potent tool to assess regional peculiarities of circulatory and autonomic nervous activity in the course of patient treatment.

  11. Synthesis and electrical properties of (LiCo 3/5Fe 1/5Mn 1/5)VO 4 ceramics

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ram, Moti

    2010-03-01

    (LiCo 3/5Fe 1/5Mn 1/5)VO 4 ceramic was synthesized via solution-based chemical method. X-ray diffraction analysis was carried out on the synthesized powder sample at room temperature, which confirms the orthorhombic structure with the lattice parameters of a = 10.3646 (20) Å, b = 3.7926 (20) Å, c = 9.2131 (20) Å. Field emission scanning electron microscopic analysis was carried out on the sintered pellet sample that indicates grains of unequal sizes (˜0.1 to 2 μm) presents average grains size with polydisperse distribution on the surface of the ceramic. Complex impedance spectroscopy (CIS) technique is used for the study of electrical properties. CIS analysis identifies: (i) grain interior, grain boundary and electrode-material interface contributions to electrical response (ii) the presence of temperature dependent electrical relaxation phenomena in the ceramics. Detailed conductivity study indicates that electrical conduction in the material is a thermally activated process. The variation of A.C. conductivity with frequency at different temperatures obeys Jonscher's universal law.

  12. Broadband Liner Optimization for the Source Diagnostic Test Fan

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Nark, Douglas M.; Jones, Michael G.

    2012-01-01

    The broadband component of fan noise has grown in relevance with the utilization of increased bypass ratio and advanced fan designs. Thus, while the attenuation of fan tones remains paramount, the ability to simultaneously reduce broadband fan noise levels has become more appealing. This paper describes a broadband acoustic liner optimization study for the scale model Source Diagnostic Test fan. Specifically, in-duct attenuation predictions with a statistical fan source model are used to obtain optimum impedance spectra over a number of flow conditions for three liner locations in the bypass duct. The predicted optimum impedance information is then used with acoustic liner modeling tools to design liners aimed at producing impedance spectra that most closely match the predicted optimum values. Design selection is based on an acceptance criterion that provides the ability to apply increased weighting to specific frequencies and/or operating conditions. Typical tonal liner designs targeting single frequencies at one operating condition are first produced to provide baseline performance information. These are followed by multiple broadband design approaches culminating in a broadband liner targeting the full range of frequencies and operating conditions. The broadband liner is found to satisfy the optimum impedance objectives much better than the tonal liner designs. In addition, the broadband liner is found to provide better attenuation than the tonal designs over the full range of frequencies and operating conditions considered. Thus, the current study successfully establishes a process for the initial design and evaluation of novel broadband liner concepts for complex engine configurations.

  13. Caracterisation des proprietes acoustiques des materiaux poreux a cellules ouvertes et a matrice rigide ou souple

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Salissou, Yacoubou

    L'objectif global vise par les travaux de cette these est d'ameliorer la caracterisation des proprietes macroscopiques des materiaux poreux a structure rigide ou souple par des approches inverses et indirectes basees sur des mesures acoustiques faites en tube d'impedance. La precision des approches inverses et indirectes utilisees aujourd'hui est principalement limitee par la qualite des mesures acoustiques obtenues en tube d'impedance. En consequence, cette these se penche sur quatre problemes qui aideront a l'atteinte de l'objectif global precite. Le premier probleme porte sur une caracterisation precise de la porosite ouverte des materiaux poreux. Cette propriete en est une de passage permettant de lier la mesure des proprietes dynamiques acoustiques d'un materiau poreux aux proprietes effectives de sa phase fluide decrite par les modeles semi-phenomenologiques. Le deuxieme probleme traite de l'hypothese de symetrie des materiaux poreux selon leur epaisseur ou un index et un critere sont proposes pour quantifier l'asymetrie d'un materiau. Cette hypothese est souvent source d'imprecision des methodes de caracterisation inverses et indirectes en tube d'impedance. Le critere d'asymetrie propose permet ainsi de s'assurer de l'applicabilite et de la precision de ces methodes pour un materiau donne. Le troisieme probleme vise a mieux comprendre le probleme de transmission sonore en tube d'impedance en presentant pour la premiere fois un developpement exact du probleme par decomposition d'ondes. Ce developpement permet d'etablir clairement les limites des nombreuses methodes existantes basees sur des tubes de transmission a 2, 3 ou 4 microphones. La meilleure comprehension de ce probleme de transmission est importante puisque c'est par ce type de mesures que des methodes permettent d'extraire successivement la matrice de transfert d'un materiau poreux et ses proprietes dynamiques intrinseques comme son impedance caracteristique et son nombre d'onde complexe. Enfin, le quatrieme probleme porte sur le developpement d'une nouvelle methode de transmission exacte a 3 microphones applicable a des materiaux ou systemes symetriques ou non. Dans le cas symetrique, on montre que cette approche permet une nette amelioration de la caracterisation des proprietes dynamiques intrinseques d'un materiau. Mots cles. materiaux poreux, tube d'impedance, transmission sonore, absorption sonore, impedance acoustique, symetrie, porosite, matrice de transfert.

  14. Integrative structure and functional anatomy of a nuclear pore complex

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kim, Seung Joong; Fernandez-Martinez, Javier; Nudelman, Ilona; Shi, Yi; Zhang, Wenzhu; Raveh, Barak; Herricks, Thurston; Slaughter, Brian D.; Hogan, Joanna A.; Upla, Paula; Chemmama, Ilan E.; Pellarin, Riccardo; Echeverria, Ignacia; Shivaraju, Manjunatha; Chaudhury, Azraa S.; Wang, Junjie; Williams, Rosemary; Unruh, Jay R.; Greenberg, Charles H.; Jacobs, Erica Y.; Yu, Zhiheng; de La Cruz, M. Jason; Mironska, Roxana; Stokes, David L.; Aitchison, John D.; Jarrold, Martin F.; Gerton, Jennifer L.; Ludtke, Steven J.; Akey, Christopher W.; Chait, Brian T.; Sali, Andrej; Rout, Michael P.

    2018-03-01

    Nuclear pore complexes play central roles as gatekeepers of RNA and protein transport between the cytoplasm and nucleoplasm. However, their large size and dynamic nature have impeded a full structural and functional elucidation. Here we determined the structure of the entire 552-protein nuclear pore complex of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae at sub-nanometre precision by satisfying a wide range of data relating to the molecular arrangement of its constituents. The nuclear pore complex incorporates sturdy diagonal columns and connector cables attached to these columns, imbuing the structure with strength and flexibility. These cables also tie together all other elements of the nuclear pore complex, including membrane-interacting regions, outer rings and RNA-processing platforms. Inwardly directed anchors create a high density of transport factor-docking Phe-Gly repeats in the central channel, organized into distinct functional units. This integrative structure enables us to rationalize the architecture, transport mechanism and evolutionary origins of the nuclear pore complex.

  15. Integrative structure and functional anatomy of a nuclear pore complex.

    PubMed

    Kim, Seung Joong; Fernandez-Martinez, Javier; Nudelman, Ilona; Shi, Yi; Zhang, Wenzhu; Raveh, Barak; Herricks, Thurston; Slaughter, Brian D; Hogan, Joanna A; Upla, Paula; Chemmama, Ilan E; Pellarin, Riccardo; Echeverria, Ignacia; Shivaraju, Manjunatha; Chaudhury, Azraa S; Wang, Junjie; Williams, Rosemary; Unruh, Jay R; Greenberg, Charles H; Jacobs, Erica Y; Yu, Zhiheng; de la Cruz, M Jason; Mironska, Roxana; Stokes, David L; Aitchison, John D; Jarrold, Martin F; Gerton, Jennifer L; Ludtke, Steven J; Akey, Christopher W; Chait, Brian T; Sali, Andrej; Rout, Michael P

    2018-03-22

    Nuclear pore complexes play central roles as gatekeepers of RNA and protein transport between the cytoplasm and nucleoplasm. However, their large size and dynamic nature have impeded a full structural and functional elucidation. Here we determined the structure of the entire 552-protein nuclear pore complex of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae at sub-nanometre precision by satisfying a wide range of data relating to the molecular arrangement of its constituents. The nuclear pore complex incorporates sturdy diagonal columns and connector cables attached to these columns, imbuing the structure with strength and flexibility. These cables also tie together all other elements of the nuclear pore complex, including membrane-interacting regions, outer rings and RNA-processing platforms. Inwardly directed anchors create a high density of transport factor-docking Phe-Gly repeats in the central channel, organized into distinct functional units. This integrative structure enables us to rationalize the architecture, transport mechanism and evolutionary origins of the nuclear pore complex.

  16. High microwave attenuation performance of planar carbonyl iron particles with orientation of shape anisotropy field

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Guo, Cheng; Yang, Zhihong; Shen, Shile; Liang, Juan; Xu, Guoyue

    2018-05-01

    Planar anisotropy carbonyl iron (PACI) particles were prepared from commercial spherical carbonyl iron particles through a high performance ball-milling technique. The paraffin composites with orientation of shape anisotropy field for these PACI particles were obtained by applying an external magnetic field during the fabrication process. The frequency-dependent complex permeability values of these prepared paraffin composites have been investigated in the frequency range of 1-18 GHz. The results demonstrate that the orientation of shape anisotropy field for these PACI particles can effectively increase the complex permeability and decrease the complex permittivity values. Benefit from the enhancement in the complex permeability and reduction in the complex permittivity, the better impedance matching condition can be obtained and thus the good microwave absorption performance can be achieved for the samples with enough magnetic field orientation time.

  17. The Application of COMSOL Multiphysics Package on the Modelling of Complex 3-D Lithospheric Electrical Resistivity Structures - A Case Study from the Proterozoic Orogenic belt within the North China Craton

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Guo, L.; Yin, Y.; Deng, M.; Guo, L.; Yan, J.

    2017-12-01

    At present, most magnetotelluric (MT) forward modelling and inversion codes are based on finite difference method. But its structured mesh gridding cannot be well adapted for the conditions with arbitrary topography or complex tectonic structures. By contrast, the finite element method is more accurate in calculating complex and irregular 3-D region and has lower requirement of function smoothness. However, the complexity of mesh gridding and limitation of computer capacity has been affecting its application. COMSOL Multiphysics is a cross-platform finite element analysis, solver and multiphysics full-coupling simulation software. It achieves highly accurate numerical simulations with high computational performance and outstanding multi-field bi-directional coupling analysis capability. In addition, its AC/DC and RF module can be used to easily calculate the electromagnetic responses of complex geological structures. Using the adaptive unstructured grid, the calculation is much faster. In order to improve the discretization technique of computing area, we use the combination of Matlab and COMSOL Multiphysics to establish a general procedure for calculating the MT responses for arbitrary resistivity models. The calculated responses include the surface electric and magnetic field components, impedance components, magnetic transfer functions and phase tensors. Then, the reliability of this procedure is certificated by 1-D, 2-D and 3-D and anisotropic forward modeling tests. Finally, we establish the 3-D lithospheric resistivity model for the Proterozoic Wutai-Hengshan Mts. within the North China Craton by fitting the real MT data collected there. The reliability of the model is also verified by induced vectors and phase tensors. Our model shows more details and better resolution, compared with the previously published 3-D model based on the finite difference method. In conclusion, COMSOL Multiphysics package is suitable for modeling the 3-D lithospheric resistivity structures under complex tectonic deformation backgrounds, which could be a good complement to the existing finite-difference inversion algorithms.

  18. Some Nonlinear Reconstruction Algorithms for Electrical Impedance Tomography

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Berryman, J G

    2001-03-09

    An impedance camera [Henderson and Webster, 1978; Dines and Lytle, 1981]--or what is now more commonly called electrical impedance tomography--attempts to image the electrical impedance (or just the conductivity) distribution inside a body using electrical measurements on its boundary. The method has been used successfully in both biomedical [Brown, 1983; Barber and Brown, 1986; J. C. Newell, D. G. Gisser, and D. Isaacson, 1988; Webster, 1990] and geophysical applications [Wexler, Fry, and Neurnan, 1985; Daily, Lin, and Buscheck, 1987], but the analysis of optimal reconstruction algorithms is still progressing [Murai and Kagawa, 1985; Wexler, Fry, and Neurnan, 1985; Kohn andmore » Vogelius, 1987; Yorkey and Webster, 1987; Yorkey, Webster, and Tompkins, 1987; Berryman and Kohn, 1990; Kohn and McKenney, 1990; Santosa and Vogelius, 1990; Yorkey, 1990]. The most common application is monitoring the influx or efflux of a highly conducting fluid (such as brine in a porous rock or blood in the human body) through the volume being imaged. For biomedical applications, this met hod does not have the resolution of radiological methods, but it is comparatively safe and inexpensive and therefore provides a valuable alternative when continuous monitoring of a patient or process is desired. The following discussion is intended first t o summarize the physics of electrical impedance tomography, then to provide a few details of the data analysis and forward modeling requirements, and finally to outline some of the reconstruction algorithms that have proven to be most useful in practice. Pointers to the literature are provided throughout this brief narrative and the reader is encouraged to explore the references for more complete discussions of the various issues raised here.« less

  19. The added value of impedance-pH monitoring to Rome III criteria in distinguishing functional heartburn from non-erosive reflux disease.

    PubMed

    Savarino, Edoardo; Marabotto, Elisa; Zentilin, Patrizia; Frazzoni, Marzio; Sammito, Giorgio; Bonfanti, Daria; Sconfienza, Luca; Assandri, Lorenzo; Gemignani, Lorenzo; Malesci, Alberto; Savarino, Vincenzo

    2011-07-01

    Functional heartburn is defined by Rome III criteria as an endoscopy-negative condition with normal oesophageal acid exposure time, negative symptom association to acid reflux and unsatisfactory response to proton pump inhibitors. These criteria underestimated the role of non-acid reflux. To assess the contribution of impedance-pH with symptom association probability (SAP) analysis in identifying endoscopy-negative patients with reflux disease and separating them from functional heartburn. Consecutive endoscopy-negative patients treated with proton pump inhibitors (n=219) undergoing impedance-pH monitoring off-therapy were analysed. Distal acid exposure time, reflux episodes, SAP and symptomatic response to proton pump inhibitors were measured. Based on impedance-pH/SAP, 67 (31%) patients were pH+/SAP+, 6 (2%) pH+/SAP-, 83 (38%) hypersensitive oesophagus and 63 (29%) functional heartburn. According to pH-metry alone/response to proton pump inhibitors, 62 (28%) were pH+/SAP+, 11 (5%) pH+/SAP-, 61 (28%) hypersensitive oesophagus and 85 (39%) functional heartburn. In the normal-acid exposure population the contribution of impedance-pH/SAP compared to pH-metry alone/response to proton pump inhibitors in identifying patients with reflux disease and functional heartburn resulted to be 10%. In patients with abnormal-acid exposure, the contribution of impedance-pH/SAP increased by 3%. Comparing impedance-pH testing with pH-metry alone plus the response to proton pump inhibitor therapy demonstrated that the latter ones cause underestimation of reflux disease patients and overestimation of functional heartburn patients. Copyright © 2011 Editrice Gastroenterologica Italiana S.r.l. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  20. Cross-sectional evaluation of electrical impedance myography and quantitative ultrasound for the assessment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy in a clinical trial setting.

    PubMed

    Rutkove, Seward B; Geisbush, Tom R; Mijailovic, Aleksandar; Shklyar, Irina; Pasternak, Amy; Visyak, Nicole; Wu, Jim S; Zaidman, Craig; Darras, Basil T

    2014-07-01

    Electrical impedance myography and quantitative ultrasound are two noninvasive, painless, and effort-independent approaches for assessing neuromuscular disease. Both techniques have potential to serve as useful biomarkers in clinical trials in Duchenne muscular dystrophy. However, their comparative sensitivity to disease status and how they relate to one another are unknown. We performed a cross-sectional analysis of electrical impedance myography and quantitative ultrasound in 24 healthy boys and 24 with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, aged 2 to 14 years with trained research assistants performing all measurements. Three upper and three lower extremity muscles were studied unilaterally in each child, and the data averaged for each individual. Both electrical impedance myography and quantitative ultrasound differentiated healthy boys from those with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (P < 0.001 for both). Quantitative ultrasound values correlated with age in Duchenne muscular dystrophy boys (rho = 0.45; P = 0.029), whereas electrical impedance myography did not (rho = -0.31; P = 0.14). However, electrical impedance myography phase correlated with age in healthy boys (rho = 0.51; P = 0.012), whereas quantitative ultrasound did not (rho = -0.021; P = 0.92). In Duchenne muscular dystrophy boys, electrical impedance myography phase correlated with the North Star Ambulatory Assessment (rho = 0.65; P = 0.022); quantitative ultrasound revealed a near-significant association (rho = -0.56; P = 0.060). The two technologies trended toward a moderate correlation with one another in the Duchenne muscular dystrophy cohort but not in the healthy group (rho = -0.40; P = 0.054 and rho = -0.32; P = 0.13, respectively). Electrical impedance myography and quantitative ultrasound are complementary modalities for the assessment of boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy; further study and application of these two modalities alone or in combination in a longitudinal fashion are warranted. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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