We investigate the Belousov–Zhabotinsky (BZ) reaction in an attempt to establish a basis for computation using chemical oscillators coupled via inhibition. The system consists of BZ droplets suspended in oil. Interdrop coupling is governed by the non-polar communicator of inhibition, Br2. We consider a linear arrangement of three droplets to be a NOR gate, where the center droplet is the output and the other two are inputs. Oxidation spikes in the inputs, which we define to be TRUE, cause a delay in the next spike of the output, which we read to be FALSE. Conversely, when the inputs do not spike (FALSE) there is no delay in the output (TRUE), thus producing the behavior of a NOR gate. We are able to reliably produce NOR gates with this behavior in microfluidic experiment.

This paper investigates the effects of environmental temperature fluctuations on the performance of a MEMS accelerometer. The model, vibration equation, and calculation of the output of detection capacitance for the accelerometer are presented. The fluctuations in temperature are considered when evaluating the actual performance of the device. The analysis results show that temperature fluctuations have a great influence on the output of the accelerometer although it has little influence on the resonant frequency of sensing mode and the sensitivity of detection capacitance. The performance deviations under the effects of temperature fluctuations are calculated accurately, which provides a reference for the design of temperature compensation method and robust design for the accelerometer.