Disruptive,Soft, Wearable Sensors

The wearable industry is on the rise, with a myriad of technical applications ranging from real-time health monitoring, the Internet of Things, and robotics, to name but a few. However, there is a saying “wearable is not wearable” because the current market-available wearable sensors are largely bulky and rigid, leading to uncomfortable wearing experience, motion artefacts, and poor data accuracy. This has aroused a world-wide intensive research quest for novel materials, with the aim of fabricating next-generation ultra-lightweight and soft wearable devices. Such disruptive second-skin-like biosensing technologies may enable a paradigm shift from current wearable 1.0 to future wearable 2.0 products. Here, the state-of-the-art progress made in the key phases for future wearable technology, namely, wear → sense → communicate → analyze → interpret → decide, is summarized. Without a doubt, materials innovation is the key, which is the main focus of the discussion. In addition, emphasis is also given to wearable energy, multicomponent integration, and wireless communication.     

Convolutional neural networks for classification of music-listening EEG: comparing 1D convolutional kernels with 2D kernels and cerebral laterality of musical influence

Neural Computing and Applications - This paper highlights the ability of convolutional neural networks (CNNs) at classifying EEG data listening to different kinds of music without the requirement...     

Nanowire-Based Soft Wearable Human–Machine Interfaces for Future Virtual and Augmented Reality Applications

A virtual world has now become a reality as augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) technology become commercially available. Similar to how humans interact with the physical world, AR and VR systems rely on human–machine interface (HMI) sensors to interact with the virtual world. Currently, this is achieved via state of-the-art wearable visual and auditory tools that are rigid, bulky, and burdensome, thereby causing discomfort during practical application. To this end, a skin sensory interface has the potential to serve as the next-generation AR/VR technology because skin-like wearable sensors have advantages in that they can be ultrathin, ultra-soft, conformal, and imperceptible, which provides the ultimate comfort and immersive experience for users. In this progress report, nanowire-based soft wearable HMI sensors including acoustic, strain, pressure sensors, and physiological sensors are reviewed that may be adopted as skin sensory inputs in future AR/VR systems. Further, nanowire-based soft contact lenses, haptic force, and thermal and vibration actuators are covered as potential means of feedback for future AR/VR systems. Considering the possible effects of the virtual world on human health, skin-like wearable artery pulses, glucose, and lactate sensors are also described, which may enable imperceptible health monitoring during future AR/VR practices.     

Polymer flow through capillaries of variable diameter

A polystyrene melt has been extruded through successive capillaries arranged to produce converging and diverging flow patterns through the twin orifices. Applied pressure at fixed mass flow rate through the combined dies is equal to the sum of the pressure drops in the single capillaries in both flow modes. The Bagley end correction was found to apply to each die in the sequence. Bagley plots were linear with a particular upper capillary at given apparent shear rate in the lower die. No effect of shear history could be detected on the viscous behavior of the polymer, but preshearing in converging flow produced a slight reduction in die swell.     

Estimating Displacement of Periodic Motion With Inertial Sensors

Inertial sensors, like accelerometers and gyroscopes, are rarely used by themselves to measure displacement. Accuracy of inertial sensors is greatly handicapped by the notorious integration drift, which arises due to numerical integration of the sensors zero bias error. A solution is proposed in this paper to provide drift free estimation of displacement from inertial sensors.     

Concentrations of elements in Lias coals from the eastern Black Sea Region,NE-Turkey

The element contents and organic matter-element relation between Lias-aged coals exposed in four fields in Gümü?hane and Bayburt were investigated. In general, fixed carbon and gross calorific values of the Edire and Balkaynak coals are higher than Güvercinlik and Çerçi coals. The highest ash yields were observed in the Çerçi coals. The concentrations of Mg, P, Ca, Mo, Y, Ni, U, Zn, Ga, Ba, W, Sr, Ta, and Be of the analysed coals are positively correlated with ash yield, indicating an organic affinity. The Lias-aged coals located in Gümü?hane and Bayburt are low-rank coals.     

Enhancement of hydrogen storage properties in 4MgH2 Na3AlH6 composite catalyzed by TiF3

In this work, we have investigated the hydrogen release and uptake pathways storage properties of the MgH₂Na₃AlH₆ with a molar ratio of 4:1 and doped with 10 wt% of TiF₃ using a mechanical alloying method. The doped composite was found to have a significant reduction on the hydrogen release temperature compared to the un-doped composite based on the temperature-programme-desorption result. The first stage of the onset desorption temperature of MgH₂Na₃AlH₆ was reduced from 170 °C to 140 °C with the addition of the TiF₃ additive. Three dehydrogenation steps with a total of 5.3 wt% of released hydrogen were observed for the 4MgH₂Na₃AlH₆-10 wt% TiF₃ composite. The re/dehydrogenation kinetics of 4MgH₂Na₃AlH₆ system were significantly improved with the addition of TiF₃. Kissinger analyses showed that the apparent activation energy, E_A, of the 4MgH₂Na₃AlH₆ doped composite was 124 kJ/mol, 16 kJ/mol and 34 kJ/mol lower for un-doped composite and the as-milled MgH₂, respectively. It was believed that the enhancements of the MgH₂Na₃AlH₆ hydrogen storage properties with the addition of TiF₃ were due to formation of the NaF, the AlF₃ and the Al₃Ti species. These species may played a synergetic catalytic role in improving the hydrogenation properties of the MgH₂Na₃AlH₆ system.     

Potassium lactate combined with sodium diacetate can inhibit growth of Listeria monocytogenes in vacuum-packed cold-smoked salmon and has no adverse sensory effects

Growth of Listeria monocytogenes in ready-to-eat fish products such as cold-smoked salmon is an important food safety issue. The objective of this study was to evaluate the antilisterial activity of potassium lactate (PL) in combination with sodium acetate (SA) or sodium diacetate (SDA) in cold-smoked salmon and to determine whether these compounds could be incorporated easily into the formulations and technology currently used by processors. A commercial brine injector was used to inject salmon filets with either saturated saline brine or saturated saline brine supplemented with combinations of PL and SA (PURASAL Opti.Form PA 4) or PL and SDA (PURASAL Opti.Form PD 4). In the brine-injected cold-smoked salmon, 2.1% (water phase) PL and 0.12% (water phase) SDA delayed the growth of L. monocytogenes for up to 42 days of vacuum-packaged storage at 10 degrees C. Storage at 25 degrees C for 6 h resulted in only a 1-log CFU/g increase in L. monocytogenes. Treatments with lower concentrations of PL and SDA or similar concentrations of PL and SA resulted in an extended lag phase and slower growth of L. monocytogenes. It was not possible to incorporate more than 2% (water phase) PL while ensuring a minimum of 3% (water phase) NaCl in the finished product because PL decreased the solubility of NaCl. Sensory analyses revealed that the preservatives did not negatively affect flavor or odor. The combination of PL and SDA is therefore a viable technology for preventing L. monocytogenes growth on cold-smoked salmon.     

Laser ablation and growth of Si and Ge

In this work, we investigated the laser ablation and deposition of Si and Ge at room temperature in vacuum by employing nanosecond lasers of 248 nm, 355 nm, 532 nm and 1064 nm. Time-integrated optical emission spectra were obtained for neutrals and ionized Ge and Si species in the plasma at laser fluences from 0.5 to 11 J/cm². The deposited films were characterized by using Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. Amorphous Si and Ge films, micron-sized crystalline droplets and nano-sized particles were deposited. The results suggested that ionized species in the plasma promote the process of subsurface implantation for both Si and Ge films while large droplets were produced from the superheated and melted layer of the target. The dependence of the properties of the materials on laser wavelength and fluence were discussed.     

Viability of CCS: A broad-based assessment for Malaysia

Climate change is fast becoming the major environmental and energy concern worldwide. There is a major dilemma between the continued reliance on fossil fuel for our energy supply and the pressing need to address the problem of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from combustion process. This paper reviews the potential for carbon capture and storage (CCS) as a part of the climate change mitigation strategy for the Malaysian electricity sector using a technology assessment framework. The nation's historical trend of high reliance on fossil fuel for its electricity sector makes it a prime candidate for CCS adoption. The suitability and practicality of the technology was reviewed from a broad perspective with consideration of Malaysia-specific conditions. It is apparent from this assessment that CCS has the potential to play an important role in Malaysia's climate change mitigation strategy provided that key criteria are fulfilled.