255 research outputs found
Ultra thin and transfer tattoo UHF RFID tags
No full textThis paper describes inkjet printing as a digital fabrication tool for the manufacture of RFID tags on flexible and porous substrates (i.e. paper). The RFID tag presented is a single layer, ultrathin UHF tag in the form of a transfer tattoo, [1] which evolved from ultra-thin, substrate insensitive tag designs, [2]. Operation has been demonstrated when mounted direct on the skin with initial read ranges in the region of 1m and subsequent improvements have enabled read range increases. The implications of ink sintering processes for paper based transfer tattoos will be discussed as specifically applied to this work, [3], and resulting patch conductivities and read ranges highlighted for tags printed on tattoo transfer paper, [4]. Recent developments in selective ink layering will be outlined to illustrate the benefits to cost effective fabrication and efficient tattoo patch operation. Finally, work integrating additional components to improve transponder efficiency will be presented and leading to the concept of an ultra-thin battery for power assisted tagging where on-skin read ranges of 6m are possible. The issues for fabrication will be discussed for deposition and fabrication of such ultra-low profile sensitive tattoo tags.
1. M. Ziai and J. Batchelor, Temporary On-Skin passive UHF RFID Transfer Tag, IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propag., 2011, 59(10), 3565.
2. M. Ziai and J. Batchelor, Thin ultra high-frequency platform insensitive radio frequency identification tags, IET Microw. Antennas Propag., 2010, vol. 4, pp. 390–398.
3. V. Sanchez-Romaguera, M.B. Madec, S.G. Yeates, Ink-jet printing of conductive polymers for smart textiles and flexible electronics. Materials Research Society Symposium Proceedings, 2009, 1192E(Materials and Devices for Flexible and Stretchable Electronics), No pp. given, Paper #: 1192-PP14-04.
4. http://www.craftycomputerpaper.co.uk/.-Inkjet-Tattoo-Paper_CPJ316I.ht
Turbulent super-diffusion as a ballistic cascade
No full textSince the pioneering work of Richardson in 1926, later refined by Batchelor and Obukhov in 1950, it is predicted that the rate of separation of pairs of fluid elements in turbulent flows with initial separation at inertial scales, grows ballistically first (Batchelor regime), before undergoing a transition towards a super-diffusive regime where the mean-square separation grows as (Richardson regime). Richardson empirically interpreted this super-diffusive regime in terms of a non-Fickian process with a scale dependent diffusion coefficient (the celebrated Richardson's ``4/3rd'' law). However, the actual physical mechanism at the origin of such a scale dependent diffusion coefficient remains unclear. The present work proposes a simple physical phenomenology for the Richardson super-diffusivity in turbulence based on a scale dependent \emph{ballistic} scenario rather than a scale dependent \emph{diffusive} scenario. It is shown that this phenomenology elucidates several aspects of turbulent dispersion: (i) it gives a simple physical explanation of the origin of the super diffusive Richardson regime as an iterative cascade of scale-dependent ballistic separations, (ii) it simply relates the Richardson constant to the Kolmogorov constant (and eventually to a ballistic persistence parameter), (iii) it gives a simple physical interpretation of the non-Fickian scale-dependent diffusivity coefficient as originally proposed by Richardson and (iv) a further extension of the phenomenology, taking into account higher order corrections to the local ballisitic motion, gives a robust interpretation of the assymetry between forward and backward dispersion, with an explicit connection to the energy flux accross scales
Survey and online discussion groups to develop a patient-rated outcome measure on acceptability of treatment response in vitiligo
No full textBackgroundVitiligo is a chronic depigmenting skin disorder which affects around 0.5-1% of the world’s population. The outcome measures used most commonly in trials to judge treatment success focus on repigmentation. Patient-reported outcome measures of treatment success are rarely used, although recommendations have been made for their inclusion in vitiligo trials. This study aimed to evaluate the face validity of a new patient-reported outcome measure of treatment response, for use in future trials and clinical practice. MethodAn online survey to gather initial views on what constitutes treatment success for people with vitiligo or their parents/carers, followed by online discussion groups with patients to reach consensus on what constitutes treatment success for individuals with vitiligo, and how this can be assessed in the context of trials. Participants were recruited from an existing database of vitiligo patients and through posts on the social network sites Facebook and Twitter. ResultsA total of 202 survey responses were received, of which 37 were excluded and 165 analysed. Three main themes emerged as important in assessing treatment response: a) the match between vitiligo and normal skin (how well it blends in); b) how noticeable the vitiligo is and c) a reduction in the size of the white patches. The majority of respondents said they would consider 80% or more repigmentation to be a worthwhile treatment response after 9 months of treatment. Three online discussion groups involving 12 participants led to consensus that treatment success is best measured by asking patients how noticeable their vitiligo is after treatment. This was judged to be best answered using a 5-point Likert scale, on which a score of 4 or 5 represents treatment success. ConclusionsThis study represents the first step in developing a patient reported measure of treatment success in vitiligo trials. Further work is now needed to assess its construct validity and responsiveness to change.<br/
Porous Silicon Nanoparticles Embedded in Poly(lactic- co- glycolic acid) Nanofiber Scaffolds Deliver Neurotrophic Payloads to Enhance Neuronal Growth
No full textScaffolds made from biocompatible polymers provide physical cues to direct the extension of neurites and to encourage repair of damaged nerves. The inclusion of neurotrophic payloads in these scaffolds can substantially enhance regrowth and repair processes. However, many promising neurotrophic candidates are excluded from this approach due to incompatibilities with the polymer or with the polymer processing conditions. This work provides one solution to this problem by incorporating porous silicon nanoparticles (pSiNPs) that are preloaded with the therapeutic into a polymer scaffold during fabrication. The nanoparticle- drug- polymer hybrids are prepared in the form of oriented poly(lactic- co- glycolic acid) nanofiber scaffolds. Three different therapeutic payloads are tested: bpV(HOpic), a small molecule inhibitor of phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN); an RNA aptamer specific to tropomyosin- related kinase receptor type B (TrkB); and the protein nerve growth factor (NGF). Each therapeutic is loaded using a loading chemistry that is optimized to slow the rate of release of these water- soluble payloads. The drug- loaded pSiNP- nanofiber hybrids release approximately half of their TrkB aptamer, bpV(HOpic), or NGF payload in 2, 10, and >40 days, respectively. The nanofiber hybrids increase neurite extension relative to drug- free control nanofibers in a dorsal root ganglion explant assay.Porous silicon nanoparticles are loaded with bpV(HOpic), a tropomyosin- related kinase receptor type B RNA aptamer, or nerve growth factor using three distinct loading chemistries. They are incorporated into aligned poly(lactic- co- glycolic acid) nanofibers using an airbrush, and the nanofiber hybrids release their payloads over varying timescales. The three released payloads maintain their bioactivity as shown by enhanced neurite extension of dorsal root ganglion explants cultured on the hybrid nanofiber scaffolds.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/155880/1/adfm202002560.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/155880/2/adfm202002560_am.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/155880/3/adfm202002560-sup-0001-SuppMat.pd
Paranoia and irony in the Anglophone dectective narrative and the novels of Umberto Eco
No full textThe thesis provides a reading of Umberto Eco's three novels, The Name of the
Rose, Foucault's Pendulum, and The Island of the Day Before, that, while it
acknowledges the importance of the Italian literary tradition in which they stand, also
seeks to explain why their author appeals so frequently to literary models outside
Italy, and in particular the Anglo-American detective genre.
Chapter One explains Eco's relationship to the development of Italian literature
through his lifetime. It is noted that Eco is beginning, both in his semiotics and his
fiction, from a position where post-structuralism has been extensively explored by
neo-avant-gardew riters. Eco positions himself alongsides uchw riters as Italo Calvino
and Jorge Luis Borges, who wish to explore the ludic possibilities of working within
structures, while all the time acknowledging the epistemological limitations of so
doing. Eco's chosen structure, more often than not, is the highly defined genre of
the detective story.
From here, the following chapters engage in close readings of the three novels,
with particular emphasis on The Name of the Rose and Foucault's Pendulum,
demonstrating that they explore problems of interpretation central to the detective
narrative. In doing this, they display an intimate knowledge of generic developments
within the detective tradition, and of the philosophical and aesthetic uses made of the
genre by other writers. The embedding of intertextual references to other detective
narratives within Eco's novels is an important factor, as they come together to form
a narrative of epistemological inquiry that itself follows Eco's philosophical progress
through the years. In short, the novels, inter alia, map a systematic inquiry into the
possibility of systematic inquiry. They reserve the space to engage in such an ironic
and self-referential project precisely through their fictionality
Critically Appraised Topics in the British Journal of Dermatology: response from Jonathan Batchelor and Phyllis Spuls, section editors for BJD's 'Putting Papers into Practice'
No full textWe were very pleased to see the correspondence from Dr Mike Sladden regarding the Critically Appraised Topic (CAT) that we published in the BJD recently(1) . We agree that it is a very helpful CAT, addressing a question that is commonly encountered in dermatological practice. The inclusion of the patient's perspective is a good way of keeping the CAT grounded in the principles of shared decision making (although it is not a mandatory part of a CAT as such). This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserve
Feasibility of offshore wind in Australia
No full textThere is no offshore wind industry in Australia at present; however, offshore wind could have great potential. There is no published discussion of the economics of offshore wind on a national scale in Australia, so this paper offers analysis which may inform future policy and technology discussions.
The main purpose of this study is to determine the economic viability of offshore wind in Australia, and consider the effect that policy has on the future viability of this technology in Australia.
The analysis of the economic feasibility indicates that offshore wind is generally twice the cost of onshore wind but that there is a lot less certainty in offshore wind costs than for onshore wind. Offshore wind developments however are typically cheaper than large-scale solar PV and Thermal. The expected cost of offshore wind in Australia in 2012 is between $100-330/MWh in Australian 2012 dollars.
This report finds that offshore wind is cheaper than some competing technologies including most large-scale solar PV and thermal developments. There are also a number of suitable locations for development of offshore wind in Australia. The policy framework at present is uncertain, but there exists a number of schemes that could be applicable to offshore wind, making it feasible to incorporate offshore wind into the renewable energy supply using the usual funding and finance models.
This dissertation finds that while there are many uncertainties, offshore wind development is feasible in Australia given the existing conditions
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Soul models: rationalization and the art of subjectivity.
No full textIn the exchange between theory and practice, art is appropriated as a creative mode of enquiry, a differential form of knowledge and experience in the processes of rationalization. As a differential in knowledge, art is explored as the practice of composition making differences out of established rationales - the discrete disciplines that find stability in economic, pedagogic and scientific discourse. As a differential in experience, art may contain the potential to destabilize social, historical and political constitutions of sense, working as an interference pattern in the production and reproduction of rational subjects. The academic distillation of the artist's know how into the 'art of subjectivity', draws both the subjects and objects of knowledge into this critical space of composition, a dynamic space of contestation in which the artist acquires the capacity to become an agent of cultural change. As a cultural and critical formation, the 'art of subjectivity' reactivates the art historical tradition of institutional critique. Re-evaluated through the critical and philosophical components of the doctoral research, the material rendition of institutional critique is configured as a series of artistic engagements with the procedural and regulatory codes of practice that comprise the info-structure of instrumental reason. Through a gradual synthesis of process and product, the 'art of subjectivity' begins to merge with the arts (techniques) of rationalization, drawing upon rather than resisting the bureaucratic, informational, scientific-technical and semiotic energies of political economy
But what does it mean?
No full textIn this paper the author, a Torres Strait Islander, uses his recent PhD graduation to talk about the struggle to change things as well as to provide some insight into the terrain an indigenous person has to negotiate within colonial institutions. He uses his relationship with fellow indigenous colleagues to highlight the need for indigenous people to position themselves more strategically in relation to the ongoing colonial times
Use of the DISCERN Instrument by Patients and Health Professionals to Assess Information Resources on Treatments for Asthma and Atopic Dermatitis
No full textABSTRACTBackgroundAs patients share in the decision-making process regarding treatments they receive, it is important that they can discriminate between reliable and unreliable sources of information about potential treatments.MethodsIn this study, health professionals and patients were asked to assess the reliability of information contained in pamphlets on treatments for asthma and atopic dermatitis using a new Japanese translation of an instrument called DISCERN. The scores given by both groups were analyzed to assess inter-rater agreement. The same DISCERN instrument was used by health professionals to evaluate websites on treatments for atopic dermatitis and the degree of inter-rater agreement was assessed again.ResultsThere was a greater inter-rater agreement between health professionals than between patients. When health professionals used the instrument to evaluate websites, the final rankings given were consistent between different raters, showing good inter-rater agreement.ConclusionsWe conclude that DISCERN is useful for evaluating the reliability of medical information both in pamphlets and on the internet, although it is used more effectively by health professionals than by patients. Further studies are needed on the use of DISCERN by patients in evaluating websites containing medical information
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