http://www.hindawi.comThe latest articles from Hindawi Publishing Corporation© 2012, Hindawi Publishing Corporation. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/js/2011/321709/Cyber physical systems (CPSs) typically have numerous sensors monitoring the various physical processes involved. Some sensor failures are inevitable and may have catastrophic effects. The relational nature of the diverse measurands can be very useful in detecting faulty sensors, monitoring the health of the system, and reducing false alarms. This paper provides procedures on how one may integrate data from the various sensors, by careful design of a sensor relationship network. Once such a network has been adopted, choices become available in real time for enhancing the reliability, safety, and performance of the overall system.Pradeepkumar Ashok, Ganesh Krishnamoorthy, and Delbert TesarCopyright © 2011 Pradeepkumar Ashok et al. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/js/2011/230535/A disposable copper (II) ion biosensor based on self-assembly of L-cysteine on gold nanoparticle-modified screen-printed carbon electrode was fabricated. The electrode was modified by attaching gold nanoparticles onto the surface of screen-printed carbon electrode through seed mediated growth method followed by self-assembly of L-cysteine. As demonstrated by differential pulse voltammetry, the sensor exhibited high sensitivity to copper (II) ion down to ppb (parts per billion) levels. Optimization of various experimental parameters such as pH, buffer concentration, and preconcentration time, which influenced the performance of the biosensor, was investigated. The sensor demonstrated a wide linear response range from 10 to 0.005 ppm (r=0.9870), with a lower detection limit of 8 ppb using 10 min of preconcentration time. The sensor based on screen-printed electrode provides a cost-effective means of application of copper ion sensor for the detection of ppb level of copper ions in water.Wong Pooi See, Sheila Nathan, and Lee Yook HengCopyright © 2011 Wong Pooi See et al. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/js/2011/406425/Developmental work towards a camera phone diagnostic platform applying localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) label-free sensing is presented. The application of spherical gold nanoparticles and nanorods are considered and assessed against ease of application, sensitivity, and practicality for a sensor for the detection of CCL2 (chemokine ligand 2). The sensitivity of the platform is compared with that of a commercial UV/Vis spectrometer. The sensitivity of the camera phone platform is found to be 30% less than that of the commercial system for an equivalent incubation time, but approaches that of the commercial system as incubation time increases. This suggests that the application of LSPR sensing on a portable camera phone devices may be a highly effective label-free approach for point-of-care use as a low-cost diagnostic sensing tool in environments where dedicated equipment is not available.Philip J. R. Roche, Sandrine Filion-Côté, Maurice C.-K. Cheung, Vamsy P. Chodavarapu, and Andrew G. KirkCopyright © 2011 Philip J. R. Roche et al. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/js/2011/827969/A wireless moisture sensor has been developed on the basis of the backscatter characteristic of the microstrip antenna, which works in the far field without a battery. This study aims to develop a wireless sensor with a long communication distance and to apply the wireless applications, such as monitoring the moisture in the wrapped products and surface adsorption of hydrogen peroxide in the biological isolation systems. The dropwise addition of the distilled water on the cleaning tissue is clearly detected by the measurement of the backscattered power from the sensor at the frequencies of 0.954 GHz and 2.45 GHz. The ratio of the backscattered power in two frequency bands can be used as an index to measure moisture.Tatsuo Toba and Akio KitagawaCopyright © 2011 Tatsuo Toba and Akio Kitagawa. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/js/2011/106482/This paper reports a novel kind of solid-state microgyroscope, which is called piezoelectric micromachined modal gyroscope (PMMG). PMMG has large stiffness and robust resistance to shake and strike because there is no evident mass-spring component in its structure. This work focused on quantitative optimization of the gyroscope, which is still blank for such gyroscope. The modal analysis by the finite element method (FEM) was firstly conducted. A set of quantitative indicators were developed to optimize the operation mode. By FEM, the harmonic analysis was conducted to find the way to efficiently actuate the operational mode needed. The optimal configuration of driving electrodes was obtained. At last, the Coriolis analysis was conducted to show the relation between angular velocity and differential output voltage by the Coriolis force under working condition. The results obtained in this paper provide theoretical basis for realizing this novel kind of micromachined gyroscope.Xiaojun Hu, Xiaosheng Wu, Zheng Wang, Wenyuan Chen, and Weiping ZhangCopyright © 2011 Xiaojun Hu et al. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/js/2011/754171/The use of multilayer of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) attached on gold electrode surface via thiol chemistry to fabricate an ammonium (NH4+) ion biosensor based on alanine dehydrogenase (AlaDH) was investigated. The approach of the study was based on construction of biosensor by direct deposition of AuNPs and 1,8-octanedithiol (C8-DT) onto the gold electrode surface. For the immobilisation of enzyme, 2-mercaptoethanol (2BME) was first covalently attached to AlaDH via esther bonding and then followed by chemically attached the 2BME-modified AlaDH (2BME-AlaDH) moiety onto the AuNPs electrode via the exposed thiol group of 2BME. The resulting biosensor response was examined by means of amperometry for the quantification of NH4+ ion. In the absence of enzyme attachment, the use of three layers of AuNPs was found to improve the electrochemistry of the gold electrode when compared with no AuNPs was coated. However, when more than three layers of AuNPs were coated, the electrode response deteriorated due to excessive deposition of C8-DT. When AlaDH was incoporated into the AuNPs modified electrode, a linear response to NH4+ ion over the concentration range of 0.1–0.5 mM with a detection limit of 0.01 mM was obtained. In the absence of AuNPs, the NH4+ ion biosensor did not exhibit any good linear response range although the current response was observed to be higher. This work demonstrated that the incorporation of AuNPs could lead to the detection of higher NH4+ ion concentration without the need of dilution for high NH4+ ion concentration samples with a rapid response time of <1 min.Tan Ling Ling, Musa Ahmad, Lee Yook Heng, and Toh Chee SengCopyright © 2011 Tan Ling Ling et al. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/js/2011/609758/The synthesis and characterization of novel N-arylhydroxylamine-based molecular wires are described for use in the site-directed covalent immobilization of whole IgG antibodies onto gold electrode surfaces. The hydroxylamine, electrochemically generated in situ from reduction of the corresponding nitrobenzene, is stable under a wide range of solution conditions and reacts selectively with carbohydrate away from the antibody-binding site to allow the development of immunosensors with maximal activity. Cyclic voltammetric responses have shown a direct correlation between the structure and length of the molecular wire and its stability and concentration at the electrode surface.Dwight A. Williams, Wraegen A. M. Williams, Melissa C. Rhoten, Charlene D. Crawley, and Suzanne RuderCopyright © 2011 Dwight A. Williams et al. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/js/2011/824215/Thick films of AR grade In2O3 were prepared by standard screen-printing technique. The gas sensing performances of thick films were tested for various gases. It showed maximum sensitivity to ethanol vapour at 350°C for 80 ppm concentration. To improve the sensitivity and selectivity of the film towards a particular gas, In2O3 sensors were surface-modified by dipping them in a solution of 2% nanosilver for different intervals of time. Obtained results indicated that spherical nano-Ag grains are highly dispersed on the surface of In2O3sensor. The surface area of the nano-Ag/ In2O3 sensor is several times larger than that of pure In2O3 sensor. In comparison with pure In2O3 sensor, all of the nano-Ag-doped sensors showed better sensing performance in respect of response, selectivity, and optimum operating temperature. The surface-modified (30 min) In2O3 sensor showed larger sensitivity to H2S gas (10 ppm) at 100°C. Nano silver on the surface of the film shifts the reactivity of film from ethanol vapour to H2S gas. A systematic study of gas sensing performance of the sensor indicates the key role played by the nano silver species on the surface. The sensitivity, selectivity, response, and recovery time of the sensor were measured and presented.D. N. Chavan, G. E. Patil, D. D. Kajale, V. B. Gaikwad, P. K. Khanna, and G. H. JainCopyright © 2011 D. N. Chavan et al. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/js/2011/601704/Tetrodotoxin (TTX) poisoning is most commonly associated with consumption of pufferfish. TTX is a low molecular weight (~319 Da) neurotoxin that selectively blocks voltage-sensitive Na+-gated ion channels. The standard method accepted worldwide for monitoring TTX toxicity in food matrices is the mouse bioassay. Ethical concerns from live animal testing, low sample throughput, and analytical inaccuracies have led to the need for an alternative method. We have previously established that surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensors can quantify TTX in aqueous buffer samples by an antibody-based inhibition assay. In this paper, we report the extension of the assay for the detection of TTX in both clinical- and food-relevant matrices. The assay was optimized for application to three relevant complex matrices: pufferfish liver extract, pufferfish muscle extract, and human urine. Matrix effects are discussed and calibration curves are presented. Naturally contaminated pufferfish liver and muscle extracts were analyzed by the SPR method, and the data is compared to liquid-chromatography electrospray-ionization multiple reactions monitoring mass spectrometry (LC/ESI/MRM/MS) data. Ten samples, including three from a poisoning incident, two control monkfish samples, and five toxic pufferfish samples, were analyzed using this method, and the data is compared to LC/ESI/MRM/MS analysis of the samples.Allen D. Taylor, Hana Vaisocherová, Jonathan Deeds, Stacey DeGrasse, and Shaoyi JiangCopyright © 2011 Allen D. Taylor et al. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/js/2011/581910/A new highly accurate closed-form capacitance calculation model has been developed to calculate the capacitance of capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducers (CMUTs) built with square diaphragms. The model has been developed by using a two-dimensional polynomial function that more accurately predicts the deflection curve of a square diaphragm deformed under the influence of a uniform external pressure and also takes account of the fringing field capacitances. The model has been verified by comparing the model-predicted deflection profiles and capacitance values with experimental results published elsewhere and finite element analysis (FEA) carried out by the authors for different material properties, geometric specifications, and loading conditions. New model-calculated capacitance values are found to be in excellent agreement with published experimental results with a maximum deviation of 1.7%, and a maximum deviation of 1.5% has been observed when compared with FEA results. The model can help in improving the accuracy of the design methodology of CMUT devices and other MEMS-based capacitive type sensors built with square diaphragms.Md Mosaddequr Rahman and Sazzadur ChowdhuryCopyright © 2011 Md Mosaddequr Rahman and Sazzadur Chowdhury. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/js/2011/571405/Quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) has gained exceptional importance in the fields of (bio)sensors, material science, environmental monitoring, and electrochemistry based on the phenomenal development in QCM-based sensing during the last two decades. This review provides an overview of recent advances made in QCM-based sensors, which have been widely employed in a plethora of applications for the detection of chemicals, biomolecules and microorganisms.Sandeep Kumar Vashist and Priya VashistCopyright © 2011 Sandeep Kumar Vashist and Priya Vashist. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/js/2011/813636/The detection of radicals on a chip is demonstrated. The proposed method is based on electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy and the measurement of high-frequency impedance of the microinductor fabricated on the chip. The measurement was by using a frequency sweep of approximately 100 MHz. The ESR spectra of di(phenyl)-(2,4,6-trinitrophenyl)iminoazanium (DPPH) dropped on the microinductor which is fabricated with CMOS 350-nm technology were observed at room temperature. The volume of the DPPH ethanol solution was 2 μL, and the number of spins on the micro-inductor was estimated at about 1014. The sensitivity is not higher than that of the standard ESR spectrometers. However, the result indicates the feasibility of a near field radical sensor in which the microinductor as a probe head and ESR signal processing circuit are integrated.Akio KitagawaCopyright © 2011 Akio Kitagawa. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/js/2011/302380/Fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensors are used in numerous applications. Currently, the assessment of dynamic loads with FBGs is of increasing interest. Those applications include vibration analysis, acceleration, or dynamic strain estimation. The acquisition of dynamic signals usually incorporates the application of signal low-pass filtering before signal quantization. FBG interrogators based on spectrometers or scanning lasers inherently have a limited antialiasing capability for dynamic FBG signals. We present a theoretical analysis of an all optical low-pass filter for spectrometer-based interrogators. The low-pass filter is based on the application of a luminescent material onto the detector. Light absorption and continuous light reemission lead to an advanced attenuation of high FBG signal frequencies. An analytic derivation of the system transfer function and numerical signal simulations are presented.T. C. Buck, M. S. Müller, and A. W. KochCopyright © 2011 T. C. Buck et al. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/js/2011/980709/An amperometric electrochemical biosensor has been developed for ammonium (NH4+) ion detection by immobilising alanine dehydrogenase (AlaDH) enzyme in a photocurable methacrylic membrane made up of poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (pHEMA) on a screen-printed carbon paste electrode (SPE). The current detected was based on the electrocatalytic oxidation of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide reduced (NADH) that is proportional to the consumption of NH4+ ion whilst enzymatic amination of AlaDH and pyruvate is taking place. The biosensor was operated amperometrically at a potential of +0.6 V and optimum pH 7. The NH4+ biosensor demonstrated linear response to NH4+ ion concentration in the range of 0.03–1.02 mg/L with a limit of detection (LOD) of 8.52 μg/L. The proposed method has been successfully applied to the determination of NH4+ ion in river water samples without any pretreatment. The levels of possible interferents in the waters were negligible to cause any interference on the proposed method. The analytical performance of the biosensor was comparable to the colorimetric method using Nesslerisation but with much lower detection limit and linear response range at ppb level.Tan Ling Ling, Musa Ahmad, and Lee Yook HengCopyright © 2011 Tan Ling Ling et al. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/js/2011/360173/The circuitry of a capacitive nanometer displacement sensor using the ring oscillator has been analyzed and characterized. We focus on the sensitivity of the sensor to detect the nanometer displacement or strain. The displaced target object must be conductive and the medium around the target object must be an insulator or a vacuum. The sensitivity in the range of L < 1 μm is enhanced with decreases in the size of the sensor electrode, and using a higher free-running oscillation frequency can increase sensitivity. The proposed sensor, which converts the displacement of the target object to the oscillation frequency, was fabricated with CMOS 350 nm technology, and the sensitivity was estimated at 8.16 kHz/nm. The results of our study indicated that the presented sensor has enough sensitivity to detect the nanometer displacement of the target object at a distance within 1 μm from the surface of the sensor electrode.Akio KitagawaCopyright © 2011 Akio Kitagawa. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/js/2011/507047/In order to improve the accuracy of immunosensor systems, poly-2-[3-(methacryloylamino)propylammonio]ethyl 3-aminopropyl phosphate (poly-3MAm3AP), which includes both phosphorylcholine and amino groups, was synthesized and applied to the preparation of antibody-immobilized beads. Acting as an antibody-immobilizing material, poly-3MAm3AP is expected to significantly lower nonspecific adsorption due to the presence of the phosphorylcholine group and recognize large numbers of analytes due to the increase in antibody-immobilizing sites. The elimination of nonspecific adsorption was compared between the formation of a blocking layer on antibody-immobilized beads and the introduction of a material to combine antibody with beads. Determination with specific and nonspecific antibodies was then investigated for the estimation of signal-to-noise ratio. Signal intensities with superior signal-to-noise ratios were obtained when poly-3MAm3AP was introduced. This may be due to the increase in antibody-immobilizing sites and the extended space for antigen-antibody interaction resulting from the electrostatic repulsion of poly-3MAm3AP. Thus, the application of poly-3MAm3AP coatings to immunoassay beads was able to improve the accuracy of flow immunosensor systems.Yusuke Fuchiwaki, Mikito Yasuzawa, Norimichi Futagami, and Kotaro RikitakeCopyright © 2011 Yusuke Fuchiwaki et al. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/js/2011/735279/An interfacial capacitance measurement electrochemical technique has been used for the sensing of self-assembled DNA hairpin probes (M. tuberculosis and B. anthracis) attached to Au electrodes. The double-layer capacitance (Cdl) was determined with electrochemical perturbations from 0.2 V to 0.5 V versus Ag/AgCl at a Au/M. tuberculosis DNA hairpin probe at surface coverage Au electrodes. The capacitance study was done at pH 7, which was necessary to maintain the M. tuberculosis and B. anthracis DNA probes closed during the electrochemical perturbation. Detailed experimental analysis carried out by repetitively switching the electrochemical potential between 0.2 and 0.5 V (versus Ag/AgCl) strongly supports the use of capacitance measurements as a tool to detect the hybridization of DNA targets. A large change in the capacitance deference between 0.2 and 0.5 V was observed in the DNA hybridization process. Therefore, no fluorophores or secondary transducers were necessary to sense a DNA target for both DNA hairpins.Joel Rivera-Gandía, Maria del Mar Maldonado, Yarimar De La Torre-Meléndez, Edwin O. Ortiz-Quiles, Nella M. Vargas-Barbosa, and Carlos R. CabreraCopyright © 2011 Joel Rivera-Gandía et al. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/js/2011/240341/First, an efficient and accurate finite element model for smart composite beams is presented. The developed model is based on layerwise theory and includes the electromechanical coupling effects. Then, an efficient design optimization algorithm is developed which combines the layerwise finite element analysis model for the smart laminated beam, sensitivity analysis based on analytical gradients and sequential quadratic programming (SQP). Optimal size/location of sensors/actuators is determined for dynamic displacement measurement purposes and for vibration control applications. For static and eigenvalue problems, the objective is to minimize the mass of the beam under various constraints including interlaminar stresses, displacements, and frequencies. For transient vibration problems, the objective is the minimization of the actuation control effort to suppress the vibration in a controlled manner. Illustrative examples are provided to validate the formulation and to demonstrate the capabilities of the present methodology.Abolghassem Zabihollah and Shahin ZareieCopyright © 2011 Abolghassem Zabihollah and Shahin Zareie. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/js/2011/190284/Multiple sensor electrodes, a supplementary electrode, a reference electrode, and signal-processing circuits were integrated on a single chip to develop a chip-shaped electrochemical sensing system. L-lactate and glucose were measured using on-chip working electrodes modified by polyion complex to immobilize lactate oxidase and glucose oxidase, respectively. Cyclic voltammetry measurements were conducted using an on-chip potentiostat. Selective and quantitative detection of glucose and L-lactate and the interference behavior were studied. Hydrogen peroxide generated by enzymatic reactions was detected by an increase in anodic oxidation current. Reaction currents at +0.7 V versus Ag/AgCl were used to obtain calibration plots. The measured dynamic ranges for L-lactate and glucose were 0.2–1.0 mM and 2.0–8.0 mM, respectively. The sensitivities were 65 nA/mM and 15 nA/mM, respectively, using a working electrode of 0.5 mm2. The 3σ detection limit was 0.19 mM and 1.1 mM, respectively. We have achieved multiple biomaterial detections on a circuit-equipped single chip. This integrated electrochemical sensor chip could be the best candidate for realizing point-of-care testing due to its portability and potential for mass production.Tomoyuki Yamazaki, Takaaki Ikeda, Byounghyun Lim, Koichi Okumura, Makoto Ishida, and Kazuaki SawadaCopyright © 2011 Tomoyuki Yamazaki et al. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/js/2011/368015/Noninvasive blood glucose sensors are still under development stage considering that they are far from being suitable for use in anartificial pancreas. The latter has three main parts: the blood glucose sensor, the insulin pump and the controller. However, for the biosensor analyzed here, some common failures such as signal shifts and unreal picks were found. They must be taken into account, for computing the correct insulin dosage for diabetic persons. Hence, a fault detection system based on discrete wavelets transform (DWT) is applied here. The main idea is, when the fault occurs, to do a proper measurement compensation for sending the corrected value to the predictive functional controller (PFC) algorithm. The study is done by reproducing the fault on the blood glucose measurements. They are obtained from a mathematical model of the endocrine system of an adult diabetic patient. This model was approved by the FDA in 2008. Then, the simulation environment includes faulty blood glucose measurements and a fault diagnosis and identification (FDI) system based on DWT. The FDI system gives to the PFC algorithm the correct information to turn it into a fault-tolerant controller (FTC). The main goal is to deliver the correct insulin dosage to the patient.Germán Campetelli, David Zumoffen, and Marta BasualdoCopyright © 2011 Germán Campetelli et al. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/js/2011/204767/This paper presents negative AC dielectrophoretic investigations using elliptic electrode geometry. Simulations of the electric field gradient variation using various ratios of the semimajor and the semiminor axis were carried out to determine the optimum elliptic geometry for the dielectrophoretic electrokinetics of specimen in an assay with laminar (low Reynolds number) fluid flow. Experimental setup of the elliptic electrode assembly using PCB fabrication and electrokinetic accumulation of specimen in a dielectrophoretic cage is also being reported. Using an actuating signal between 1 kHz and 1 MHz, successful trapping of 45 μm polystyrene beads suspended in distilled water was demonstrated due to negative dielectrophoresis near 100 kHz using the novel elliptic electrode.S. M. Rezaul Hasan and Aanan KhurmaCopyright © 2011 S. M. Rezaul Hasan and Aanan Khurma. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/js/2011/529454/Static or slowly varying magnetic fields can affect the performances of linear variable differential transformer by inducing a position reading drift. The problem is barely addressed in LVDTs' datasheets, and no quantitative information on the induced error is given. An LVDT finite element model is here presented together with its experimental validation in order to propose a tool for the study of the effects of external magnetic fields on LVDTs and for the design of less sensitive devices. The LVDT model has been validated in standard working conditions and in presence of an external magnetic field by means of a complete set of experimental measurements performed on a custom prototype, manufactured following the FEM guidelines.Alessandro Masi, Alessandro Danisi, Roberto Losito, Michele Martino, and Giovanni SpieziaCopyright © 2011 Alessandro Masi et al. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/js/2011/608157/A dark signal temperature dependence correction method for miniature spectrometer modules is described in this paper. It is based on laboratory measurements of dark signal temperature dependence at few different integration times. A set of parameters are calculated which make it possible to estimate dark signal at any temperature and integration time within reasonable range. In field conditions, it is not always possible to take frequent dark signal readings during spectral measurements. If temperature is recorded during the measurement, this method can be used for estimating dark signal for every single spectral measurement. The method is validated on two different miniature spectrometers.Joel KuuskCopyright © 2011 Joel Kuusk. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/js/2011/983430/This work deals with the design, fabrication, and thermal characterization of a disposable miniaturized Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) module that will be integrated in a portable and fast DNA analysis system. It is composed of two independent parts: a silicon substrate with embedded heater and thermometers and a PDMS (PolyDiMethylSiloxane) chamber reactor as disposable element; the contact between the two parts is assured by a mechanical clamping obtained using a Plastic Leaded Chip Carrier (PLCC). This PLCC is also useful, avoid the PCR mix evaporation during the thermal cycles. Finite Element Analysis was used to evaluate the thermal requirements of the device. The thermal behaviour of the device was characterized revealing that the temperature can be controlled with a precision of ±0.5°C. Different concentrations of carbon nanopowder were mixed to the PDMS curing agent in order to increase the PDMS thermal conductivity and so the temperature control accuracy.Elisa Morganti, Cristian Collini, Cristina Potrich, Cristina Ress, Andrea Adami, Leandro Lorenzelli, and Cecilia PederzolliCopyright © 2011 Elisa Morganti et al. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/js/2011/983752/This paper reports the successful fabrication of an impedance-based miniaturized biosensor and its application for ultrasensitive Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) detection in standard and real human plasma solution, spiked with different PSA concentrations. The sensor was fabricated using photolithographic techniques, while monoclonal antibodies specific to human PSA were used as primary capture antibodies. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) was employed as a detection technique. The sensor exhibited a detection limit of 1 pg/ml for PSA with minimal nonspecific binding (NSB). This detection limit is an order of magnitude lower than commercial PSA ELISA assays available on the market. The sensor can be easily modified into an array for the detection of other biomolecules of interest, enabling accurate, ultrasensitive, and inexpensive point-of-care sensing technologies.Ganna Chornokur, Sunil K. Arya, Catherine Phelan, Richard Tanner, and Shekhar BhansaliCopyright © 2011 Ganna Chornokur et al. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/js/2011/102827/A poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) conducting ink is presented as a new electroactive material to be incorporated in acetylcholinesterase-(AChE-) based screen printed biosensors, acting not only as a conducting template but also as an electrochemical mediator for thiocholine oxidation. Two different strategies have been studied for the chemical synthesis of PEDOT: (a) a classical oxidative polymerisation and (b) a more innovative enzymatic polymerisation, giving a water-soluble PEDOT. The use of this water-soluble conducting polymer as mediator in screen-printed biosensors enables its deposition by printing like the rest of the layers. Highly sensitive acetylcholinesterase-(AChE-) based screen-printed biosensors have been constructed using both classical and enzymatic PEDOT, in combination with genetically modified AChE. These electrodes allow the measurement of thiocholine oxidation at potentials of 100 mV versus Ag/AgCl reference electrode through the mediation of PEDOT. Inhibition of thiocholine production in presence of CPO allow for detection of this pesticide in concentrations as low as 1⋅10−10 M.Tomasz Sikora, Georges Istamboulie, Elena Jubete, Estibalitz Ochoteco, Jean-Louis Marty, and Thierry NoguerCopyright © 2011 Tomasz Sikora et al. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/js/2011/707498/This paper describes IMU (Inertial Measurement Unit) platforms and their main target applications with a special focus on the 10-degree-of-freedom (10-DOF) inertial platform iNEMO and its technical features and performances. The iNEMO module is equipped with a 3-axis MEMS accelerometer, a 3-axis MEMS gyroscope, a 3-axis MEMS magnetometer, a pressure sensor, and a temperature sensor. Furthermore, the Microcontroller Unit (MCU) collects measurements by the sensors and computes the orientation through a customized Extended Kalman Filter (EKF) for sensor fusion.Nunzio Abbate, Adriano Basile, Carmen Brigante, Alessandro Faulisi, and Fabrizio La RosaCopyright © 2011 Nunzio Abbate et al. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/js/2010/816068/Piezoelectric materials have commonly been used in pressure and stress sensors; however, many designs consist of thin plate structures that produce small voltage signals when they are compressed or extended under a pressure field. This study used finite element methods to design a novel piezoelectric pressure sensor with a C-shaped piezoelectric element and determine if the voltage signal obtained during hydrostatic pressure application was enhanced compared to a standard thin plate piezoelectric element. The results of this study demonstrated how small deformations of this C-shaped sensor produced a large electrical signal output. It was also shown that the location of the electrodes for this sensor needs to be carefully chosen and that the electric potential distribution varies depending on the poling of the piezoelectric element. This study indicated that the utilization of piezoelectric materials of different shapes and geometries embedded in a polymer matrix for sensing applications has several advantages over thin plate solid piezoelectric structures.M. Martinez and A. ArtemevCopyright © 2010 M. Martinez and A. Artemev. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/js/2010/706829/We propose theoretically a spectroscopic ellipsometer in which the polarizer and the analyzer are rotating synchronously in the same direction with the same angular speed. The light intensity received by the detector contains four components, one dc and three AC terms, with frequencies of 2ω, 4ω, and 6ω. The main advantage of the proposed ellipsometer is that one can extract the ellipsometric parameters ψ and Δ from the AC Fourier coefficients without relying on the dc component which is considered to be a serious problem in rotating-analyzer or -polarizer ellipsometers. This allows measurements in a semidark room without worrying about stray light problems, dark currents in detectors, and long-term fluctuations in light sources. The results from the simulated spectra of the complex refractive index of c-Si and Au are presented. The noise effect on the proposed ellipsometer was simulated and plotted for the two samples.Taher M. El-Agez and Sofyan A. TayaCopyright © 2010 Taher M. El-Agez and Sofyan A. Taya. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/js/2010/452163/We measured the glucose concentration by using the real-time electromagnetic interaction between probe-tip and glucose solution using a microwave biosensor. The microwave biosensor, consisting of a dielectric resonator coupled to the probe-tip, allows observation of the small variation of the glucose concentration changes in the ranges of 0–300 mg/ml by measuring the microwave reflection coefficient S11. We could observe the concentration of glucose with a detectable resolution up to 1 mg/ml at an operating frequency of about f=4-5 GHz. The change of the glucose concentration is directly related to the change of the reflection coefficient due to the electromagnetic interaction between the microwave resonator and the glucose solution. The operational principal is explained by the plane-wave solution model. The measured signal-to-noise ratio was about 37 dB, and the minimum detectible signal was about 0.003 dB/(mg/ml). A glucose biosensor using a microwave resonator with probe provides a unique approach for glucose real-time monitoring.Arsen Bababjanyan, Harutyun Melikyan, Seungwan Kim, Jongchel Kim, Kiejin Lee, and Barry FriedmanCopyright © 2010 Arsen Bababjanyan et al. All rights reserved.