Multi-objective Optimal Design of High Frequency Probe for Scanning Ion Conductance Microscopy

Scanning ion conductance microscopy（SICM） is an emerging non-destructive surface topography characterization apparatus with nanoscale resolution. However, the low regulating frequency of probe in most existing modulated current based SICM systems increases the system noise, and has difficulty in imaging sample surface with steep height changes. In order to enable SICM to have the capability of imaging surfaces with steep height changes, a novel probe that can be used in the modulated current based bopping mode is designed. The design relies on two piezoelectric ceramics with different travels to separate position adjustment and probe frequency regulation in the Z direction. To fiarther improve the resonant frequency of the probe, the material and the key dimensions for each component of the probe are optimized based on the multi-objective optimization method and the finite element analysis. The optimal design has a resonant frequency of above 10 kHz. To validate the rationality of the designed probe, microstructured grating samples are imaged using the homebuilt modulated current based SICM system. The experimental results indicate that the designed high frequency probe can effectively reduce the spike noise by 26% in the average number of spike noise. The proposed design provides a feasible solution for improving the imaging quality of the existing SICM systems which normally use ordinary probes with relatively low regulating frequency.

Comparing Studies on the General Egg Qualities and Mineral Element Contents of Different Layers

[Objective]In order to compare the general egg qualities and mineral element contents of different layers,six commercial breeds in brown shell layer,including Lohmann,Jinghong,Hyline,Xinyang,Hisax,ISA,Suqing green shell layer and Wenchang chicken were used as materials.The general egg quality traits and mineral elements contents of eight breeds at 43 weeks old were mensurated.[Result] There were significant differences in general egg qualities（except yolk weight）of eight breeds.About the mineral element contents,the differences were significant only in P,Mn and Se of some breeds in this experiment.[Conclusion]The results in this study could provide the reference for further researcher,layer producers,nutritionists,consumers and so on.

Entrapment of brown seaweeds(Turbinaria conoides and Sargassum wightii) in polysulfone matrices for the removal of praseodymium ions from aqueous solutions

The aim of the present investigation was to study the potential of two brown seaweeds（Sargassum wightii and Turbinaria conoides） to remove praseodymium ions from solutions. Due to swelling problems, the seaweed biomasses were also immobilized using polysulfone matrices which amplified hydraulic conductivity more than 7.1 times. At optimum pH of 5, maximum Pr（III） uptakes of 131.4, 146.4, 111.2 and 119.5 mg/g were observed for free-S. wightii, free-T. conoides, polysulfone immobilized S. wightii（PISW） and polysulfone immobilized T. conoides（PITC）, respectively. Experimental biosorption isotherms were successfully described using the Langmuir, Freundlich and Sips model. Owing to intraparticle diffusion, rate of Pr（III） sorption by immobilized biosorbents was slow and equilibrium attainment took 240 min compared to only 90 min by free biomasses. However, regeneration of seaweed biomasses for repeated sorption application was only possible with immobilization biosorbents. With 0.1 mol/L HCl as elutant, both PITC and PISW exhibited invariable Pr（III） uptake capacity and very high mechanical stability over 10 sorption-desorption cycles.