Search results for "force"
showing 10 items of 3423 documents
Current injection from metal to MoS2 probed at nanoscale by conductive atomic force microscopy
2016
Contacts with MoS2 are currently the object of many investigations, since current injection through metal/MoS2 interfaces represents one of the limiting factors to the performance of MoS2 thin film transistors. In this paper, we employed conductive atomic force microscopy (CAFM) to investigate the current injection mechanisms from a nanometric contact (a Pt coated tip) to the surface of MoS2 thin films exfoliated on SiO2. The analysis of local current-voltage (I-V) characteristics on a large array of tip positions provided high spatial resolution information on the lateral homogeneity of the tip/MoS2 Schottky barrier Phi(B) and of the ideality factor n. From the histograms of the measured P…
Alternative methods for strength development : the case of motor imagery and neuromuscular electrical stimulation
2020
An intense practice of resistance training, i.e. with heavy loads and a low number of repetitions, can cause injuries. To avoid them or limit detraining after an injury, alternative training methods have been developed. These methods have a double target since they also allow populations with different pathologies to practice a physical activity. This thesis focused particularly on the neuromuscular system and the mechanisms involved in strength development on plantar flexors muscles following motor imagery (MI), i.e. mental simulation of a movement without its concomitant motor output, and neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES), i.e. evoking contractions through electrical current app…
Generating Hyperspectral Skin Cancer Imagery using Generative Adversarial Neural Network
2020
In this study we develop a proof of concept of using generative adversarial neural networks in hyperspectral skin cancer imagery production. Generative adversarial neural network is a neural network, where two neural networks compete. The generator tries to produce data that is similar to the measured data, and the discriminator tries to correctly classify the data as fake or real. This is a reinforcement learning model, where both models get reinforcement based on their performance. In the training of the discriminator we use data measured from skin cancer patients. The aim for the study is to develop a generator for augmenting hyperspectral skin cancer imagery. peerReviewed
The role of small airways in monitoring the response to asthma treatment: what is beyond FEV1?
2009
The definition of asthma has evolved from that of an episodic disease characterized by reversible airways constriction to a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways, with at least partially reversible airway constriction. Increasing evidence supports the notion that small and large airways play a central role in asthma pathophysiology with regard to inflammation, remodeling and symptoms. The contribution of the distal airways to the asthma phenotype carries implications for the delivery of inhaled medications to the appropriate areas of the lung and for the monitoring of the response to asthma treatment. Asthma control is evaluated on the basis of symptoms, lung function and exacerbation…
Effect of platform switching on the peri-implant bone: A finite element study
2015
Background: There exists a relation between the presence and location of the micro-gap and the loss of peri-implant bone. Several authors have shown that the treatments based on the use of platform switching result in less peri-implant bone loss and an increased tissue stability. The purpose of this study was to analyse the effect of the platform switching on the distribution of stresses on the peri-implant bone using the finite element method. Material and Methods: A realistic 3D full-mandible finite element model representing cortical bone and trabecular bone was used to study the distribution of the stress on the bone induced by an implant of diameter 4.1 mm. Two abutments were modelled.…
In-process heat treatments to improve FS-welded butt joints
2008
Friction-stir welding (FSW) is a relatively new but already well known solid-state welding process whose main advantage with respect to fusion welding processes is the possibility to successfully weld light alloys, traditionally considered difficult to weld or unweldable. Despite the good mechanical performances that can be obtained, there exists the possibility to further improve the joints' effectiveness through post-welding heat treatments that are however time and cost-expensive and, therefore, not best suited for industrial applications. In the present paper, the authors report the results of an experimental campaign, developed on FSW of AA7075-T6 aluminum alloy, aimed to investigate t…
Self-Organization Pathways and Spatial Heterogeneity in Insulin Amyloid Fibril Formation
2009
At high temperature and low pH, the protein hormone insulin is highly prone to form amyloid fibrils, and for this reason it is widely used as a model system to study fibril formation mechanisms. In this work, we focused on insulin aggregation mechanisms occurring in HCl solutions (pH 1.6) at 60 degrees C. By means of in situ Thioflavin T (ThT) staining, the kinetics profiles were characterized as a function of the protein concentration, and two concurrent aggregation pathways were pointed out, being concentration dependent. In correspondence to these pathways, different morphologies of self-assembled protein molecules were detected by atomic force microscopy images also evidencing the prese…
Elasticity and yield strength of pentagonal silver nanowires: In situ bending tests
2014
This paper reports in situ mechanical characterization of silver nanowires (Ag NWs) inside a scanning electron microscope using a cantilevered beam bending technique. Measurements consisted in controlled bending of a cantilevered NW by the tip of an atomic force microscope glued to the force sensor. Relatively high degree of elasticity followed by either plastic deformation or fracture was observed in bending experiments. Experimental data were numerically fitted into the model based on the elastic beam theory and values of Young modulus and yield strength were extracted. Measurements were performed on twenty Ag NWs with diameters from 76 nm to 211 nm. Average Young modulus and yield streng…
Affinity scale between a carrier and a drug in DPI studied by atomic force microscopy.
2002
The dry powder inhalers (DPIs) consist, in the most cases, of ordered mixture where the particles adhesion results of interactions between the drug and the carrier. Generally, one step of production process is the micronization of the drug particles in order to reduce the size for ordered mixing optimization. But this operation is known to partially create an amorphous surface. In this case, surrounding storage conditions, like relative humidity (RH), are able to modify the percentage of amorphous drug surface. The aim of this study was to investigate surface reactivity, surface energy and direct force measurements by atomic force microscopy (AFM) between lactose (carrier) and zanamivir (dr…
Tribological Aspects of In Situ Manipulation of Nanostructures Inside Scanning Electron Microscope
2014
This chapter is dedicated to manipulation of nanostructures inside a scanning electron (SEM) microscope employed for real-time tribological measurements. Different approaches to force registration and calculation of static and kinetic friction are described. Application of the considered methodology to Au and Ag nanoparticles, as well as ZnO and CuO nanowires, is demonstrated. Advantages and limitations of the methodology in comparison to traditional AFM-based manipulation techniques are discussed.