This study describes an approach for remote measuring of on-site temperature and particle concentration using magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) via simulation and also experimentally. The sensor model indicates that under different applied magnetic fields, the magnetization equation of the MNPs can be discretized to give a higher-order nonlinear equation in two variables that consequently separates information regarding temperature and particle concentration. As a result, on-site tissue temperature or nanoparticle concentration can be determined using remote detection of the magnetization. In order to address key issues in the higher-order equation we propose a new solution method of the first-order model from the perspective of the generalized inverse matrix. Simulations for solving the equation, as well as to optimize the solution of higher equations, were carried out. In the final section we describe a prototype experiment used to investigate the measurement of the temperature in which we used a superconducting magnetometer and commercial MNPs. The overall error after nine repeated measurements was found to be less than 0.57 K within 310-350 K, with a corresponding root mean square of less than 0.55 K. A linear relationship was also found between the estimated concentration of MNPs and the sample's mass.

In view of the magnetically actuated capsule robot applications in diagnoses of human stomach disease, the challenges that are associated with degrees-of-freedom (DOF), environmental adaptability, and the size of the entire system must be addressed. In this study, a new electromagnetic coil system that is based on adaptive magnetic levitation is presented; it is mainly composed of an independent orientation control electromagnetic coil and a magnetic levitation control electromagnetic coil. The system is designed to perform motion control of the capsule, including 3-DOF levitating translational motion control, and pitch and yaw motion control in levitation. In this manner, it compensates for the lack of previous magnetic levitation systems that were based on electromagnetic coils for the control of the tilt angle of the capsule. With torque-based actuation control, the tilt angle of the capsule can be controlled continuously with an angle increment of no more than 2 $^{\circ}$ (within 30 $^{\circ}$ ) during levitation. The capsule under the magnetic levitation control, which is based on the fuzzy proportional-integral -derivative controller, can maintain the stability of levitation; the error between the actual capsule position and the required position did not exceed 0.1 mm when the capsule was out of water or completely immersed in it. Moreover, the experiment of the capsule levitating from air to water further verifies the adaptability of the system with regard to the environment; this provides a new examination method for capsule endoscopy. Note to Practitioners —This work is caused by the motion manipulation problem of a magnetically driven capsule robot. Most of the existing magnetically driven capsule robots use a rolling or sliding method that fits tightly against the stomach wall, and these forms of motion make it possible to risk missing diagnoses in the examination of gastric diseases, and the maneuverability limits its further application. This paper proposes an adaptive control strategy for a magnetically driven capsule robot based on magnetic levitation motion. It allows the magnetically driven capsule robot to levitate to any position in the stomach for photography and observation without external mechanical support, and this levitation motion is sufficiently stable. In addition, the proposed capsule robot has independent orientation and position control, which has the potential to achieve automated inspection.

To obtain high photovoltaic performances for the emerging copper zinc tin sulfide/selenide (CZTSSe) thin film solar cells, much effort has deservedly been placed on CZTSSe phase purification and CZTSSe grain size enhancement. Another highly crucial but less explored factor for device performance is the elemental constitution of CZTSSe surface, which is at the heart of p-n junction where major photogenerated carriers generate and separate. In this work we demonstrate that, despite the well-built phase and large grained films are observed by common phases and morphology characterization (XRD, Raman and SEM), prominent device efficiency variations from short circuited to 6.4% are obtained. Insight study highlights that the surface (0–250 nm) compositions variation results in different bulk defect depths and doping densities in the depletion zone. We propose that suitable sulfurization (at ~10 kPa sulfur pressure) drives optimization of surface constitution by managing the Cu, Zn and Sn diffusion and surface reaction. Therefore, our study reveals that the balance of elemental diffusion and interface reactions is the key to tuning the surface quality CZTSSe film and thus the performance of as resulted devices.

Objective: Magnetic particle imaging (MPI) is a promising medical modality that can image superparamagnetic iron-oxide nanoparticle (SPIO) concentration distributions safely and with high sensitivity. In the x-space reconstruction algorithm, the Langevin function is inaccurate in modeling the dynamic magnetization of SPIOs. This problem prevents the x-space algorithm from achieving a high spatial resolution reconstruction. Methods: We propose a more accurate model to describe the dynamic magnetization of SPIOs, named the modified Jiles–Atherton (MJA) model, and apply it to the x-space algorithm to improve the image resolution. Considering the relaxation effect of SPIOs, the MJA model generates the magnetization curve via an ordinary differential equation. Three modifications are also introduced to further improve its accuracy and robustness. Results: In magnetic particle spectrometry experiments, the MJA model shows higher accuracy than the Langevin and Debye models under various test conditions. The average root-mean-square error is 0.055, 83% and 58% lower than the Langevin and Debye models, respectively. In MPI reconstruction experiments, the MJA x-space improves the spatial resolution by 64% and 48% compared to the x-space and Debye x-space methods, respectively. Conclusion: The MJA model shows high accuracy and robustness in modeling the dynamic magnetization behavior of SPIOs. By integrating the MJA model into the x-space algorithm, the spatial resolution of MPI technology was improved. Significance: Improving the spatial resolution by using the MJA model helps MPI have a better performance in medical fields, including cardiovascular imaging.

In this study, we propose and demonstrate the usefulness of employing time-varying magnetization of a magnetic nanoparticle (MNP) based sample, induced by low frequency (f = 25 Hz) triangular-wave magnetic field, to achieve the approach of real-time recording of magnetization curve, which allows precise and noninvasive temperature probing with real-time performance. Moreover, the present report introduces the design and performed the test of a detection system for accurate and real-time recording of the magnetization curve of MNP-based samples. We found that by employing the magnetization curve of a magnetic fluid sample containing magnetite nanoparticles of about 30 nm in diameter the accuracy of the temperature probing is about 0.32 K (0.1% relative accuracy), with response time of 1 s. Furthermore, an increase in response time from 1 to 8 s improves the accuracy of temperature probing from 0.32 to 0.20 K. Finally, we envisage that breakthroughs in clinical hyperthermia, targeted drug delivery and basic cell research can be accomplished while using the approach reported in this study.