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Biomolecular detection by a cantilever functionalized by RNA aptamers as receptor molecules

Submitted by Kilho Eom on

We have recently reported the label-free detection of HCV (Hepatitis C Virus) helicase by using a resonating microcantilever whose surface is functionalized by RNA aptamers as receptor molecules. This work was accepted for publication at Biosensors & Bioelectronics.

Abstract

Kinetics of phase transformations in the peridynamic formulation of continuum mechanics

Submitted by Kaushik Dayal on

Abstract 

We study the kinetics of phase transformations in solids using the peridynamic formulation of continuum mechanics. The peridynamic theory is a nonlocal formulation that does not involve spatial derivatives, and is a powerful tool to study defects such as cracks and interfaces.

A method to analyze electromechanical stability of dielectric elastomer actuators

Submitted by Xuanhe Zhao on

      This letter describes a method to analyze electromechanical stability of dielectric elastomer actuators.  We write the free energy of an actuator using stretches and nominal electric displacement as generalized coordinates, and pre-stresses and voltage as control parameters.  When the Hessian of the free-energy function ceases to be positive-definite, the actuator thins down drastically, often resulting in electrical breakdown.  Our calculation shows that stability of the actuator is markedly enhanced by pre-stresses.

Propagation of instability in dielectric elastomers

Submitted by Jinxiong Zhou on

When an electric voltage is applied across the thickness of a thin layer of an dielectric elastomer, the layer reduces its thickness and expands its area. This electrically induced deformation can be rapid and large, and is potentially useful as soft actuators in diverse technologies. Recent experimental and theoretical studies have shown that, when the voltage exceeds some critical value, the homogenous deformation of the layer becomes unstable, and the layer deforms into a mixture of thin and thick regions.

Mixed-mode flaws modelling at nanoscale in cell membrane system by time-domain hypersingular integral equation method

Submitted by BoJing Zhu on

Cell membrane system has the protein-lipid-protein sandwich type structure. The membrane nanocomposites (PLP-MNs) typically exhibit pronounced nonlinear viscoplastic response under electro-thermo-elastic coupled incremental loads conditions. These extended coupled incremental loads can cause high extended incremental stresses and may induce flaws initiation, growth and finally lead to fracture or failure of nanocomposites.

On the Possibility of Piezoelectric Nanocomposites without using Piezoelectric Materials

Submitted by Nikhil Sharma on

In a piezoelectric material an applied uniform strain can induce an electric polarization (or vice-versa). Crystallographic considerations restrict this technologically important property to non-centrosymmetric systems. It can be shown both mathematically and physically, that a non-uniform strain can potentially break the inversion symmetry and induce polarization even in non-piezoelectric dielectrics.