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Related Concept Videos

Motor Units00:46

Motor Units

A motor unit consists of two main components: a single efferent motor neuron (i.e., a neuron that carries impulses away from the central nervous system) and all of the muscle fibers it innervates. The motor neuron may innervate multiple muscle fibers, which are single cells, but only one motor neuron innervates a single muscle fiber.
Motor Units01:13

Motor Units

The motor unit is a fundamental component of the neuromuscular system and plays a crucial role in coordinating muscle contractions. It consists of a somatic motor neuron, which connects and controls multiple skeletal muscle fibers, forming a single functional segment. The axon of the motor neuron branches out and establishes synaptic connections known as neuromuscular junctions with individual muscle fibers within the motor unit.
Motor units come in different sizes, with smaller units...
Mechanical Systems01:22

Mechanical Systems

Mechanical systems are analogous to to electrical networks where springs and masses play similar roles to inductors and capacitors, respectively. A viscous damper in mechanical systems functions similarly to a resistor in electrical networks, dissipating energy. The forces acting on a mass in such systems include an applied force in the direction of motion, counteracted by forces from the spring, a viscous damper, and the mass's acceleration. This interplay of forces is mathematically described...
Internal Combustion Engine01:20

Internal Combustion Engine

The internal combustion engine is a heat engine that uses the byproducts of combustion as the working fluid instead of using a heat transfer medium to transfer heat. The combustion is done in a way that produces high-pressure combustion products that can be expanded through a turbine or piston to create work. Internal combustion engines can again be categorized into three kinds: (1) spark ignition gasoline engines, most commonly used in automobiles, (2) compression ignition diesel engines that...
Torque Free Motion01:15

Torque Free Motion

The torque-free motion refers to the movement of a rigid body in space when no external torques are acting upon it. This type of motion can be observed in environments where there are no external forces or frictions, like in outer space. For example, a rotation of Mars in space is a torque-free motion. Mars is an axisymmetric object, meaning it has an axis of symmetry along which it rotates, designated as the z-axis. The rotating frame of reference is defined such that the center of mass of...
Indirect Motor Pathways01:22

Indirect Motor Pathways

The indirect motor or extrapyramidal pathways originate in the brainstem, the lower portion of the brain that connects it to the spinal cord. They consist of several distinct tracts, each with specialized functions. The four main tracts of the indirect motor pathways are the vestibulospinal tract, the reticulospinal tract, the tectospinal tract, and the rubrospinal tract.
The vestibulospinal tract originates in the vestibular nuclei of the brainstem. The vestibular system detects changes in...

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Design and Assembly of an Ultra-light Motorized Microdrive for Chronic Neural Recordings in Small Animals
10:29

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Published on: November 8, 2012

Multi-fuel driven Janus micromotors.

Wei Gao1, Mattia D'Agostino, Victor Garcia-Gradilla

  • 1Department of Nanoengineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.

Small (Weinheim an Der Bergstrasse, Germany)
|October 12, 2012
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Chemically powered Janus micromotors utilize aluminum and palladium to efficiently move using bubble propulsion from various fuels. These versatile micro-machines demonstrate autonomous adaptation to different chemical environments, including alkaline conditions.

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Area of Science:

  • Materials Science
  • Nanotechnology
  • Chemical Engineering

Background:

  • Micromotors offer potential for targeted delivery and manipulation in diverse environments.
  • Existing chemically powered micromotors often require specific fuel sources and struggle in alkaline conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To present the first chemically powered micromotor capable of utilizing multiple fuel sources.
  • To demonstrate efficient propulsion and autonomous adaptation in various chemical environments, including alkaline solutions.

Main Methods:

  • Fabrication of Al/Pd Janus microspheres by depositing palladium onto aluminum microparticles.
  • Utilizing bubble propulsion generated from aluminum reactions in acidic and alkaline media.
  • Employing hydrogen peroxide as a fuel source for oxygen bubble generation via the palladium coating.

Main Results:

  • Achieved high speeds up to 200 μm s⁻¹ and long lifetimes of 8 minutes in acidic media.
  • Demonstrated efficient autonomous propulsion in strong alkaline environments (pH > 11) without external fuels.
  • Illustrated the micromotor's ability to adapt to new fuel sources without compromising propulsion.

Conclusions:

  • The Al/Pd Janus microspheres represent a novel class of multi-fuel-powered micromotors.
  • Autonomous operation and efficient propulsion in diverse chemical environments, including alkaline solutions, are key advancements.
  • The multi-fuel capability broadens the operational scope and application potential for micromotors.