Implementation and Reconfiguration of Robot Operating System on Human Follower Transporter Robot

Robotic Operation System (ROS) is an im- portant platform to develop robot applications. One area of applications is for development of a Human Follower Transporter Robot (HFTR), which can be considered as a custom mobile robot utilizing differential driver steering method and equipped with Kinect sensor. This study discusses the development of the robot navigation system by implementing Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM)

Delivering Chinese voices to Australian audiences: CCTV's search for congruence between its frames and those of audiences

This project explored firstly how China’s image is framed by public diplomacy (PD) elites in China and Australia and their views on the role of media in soft power generation and projection; and secondly, with the case of One Belt One Road Initiative (OBOR), China’s most recent comprehensive strategy to generate wider cooperation and prosperity in a wide arc of countries; how China’s discourse is framed comparatively by its own media channel CCTV NEWS (now CGTN) and intended target audiences to examine congruence. CCTV NEWS has adopted the multinational formula exemplified by CNN by incorporating Western anchors and Western news production values. The practice culture as an index of framing culture had also been discussed to make sense of the frame construction under China’s current institution and possible frame reception among audiences The research is situated under symbolic interactionism and the constructivist approach to analyse the information flow under the constructivist international relations. It is ideographic, interpretive and qualitative and does not seek to prove causality, though it does recognise that Chinese PD elites have an intention to influence and treat audiences as targets. In-depth interviews, observation and online focus group discussion have been used as data-collecting methods and framing analysis was used for the analysis of the collected data, plus the state documents and CCTV NEWS features on OBOR. Frames from CCTV programs about OBOR were found to have limited congruence with those of Australian stakeholders in China-Australia relations despite the program format and quality being rendered similar to Western models through the use of Western anchors, journalists and production values. There is the obstacle of stereotypical frames of China that needs to be carefully studied and addressed. In networked society wherein public diplomacy prevails, media as a channel of projection shows its limitation in leading discourse; but the mobilisation among media practitioners grant media outlets a dual role, as both a tool and a network hub

Genetic diversity, physiology and production of Chinese water chestnut (Eleocharis dulcis (Burm. f.) Trin. ex Henschel)

Chinese water chestnut (Eleocharis dulcis (Burm. f.) Trin. ex Henschel) is a new aquatic vegetable to Australia. Lack of research on this crop greatly limits the understanding of its production performance. Therefore, studies on several aspects of this crop were undertaken to provide a scientific basis for improvement in yield and quality. Firstly, the genetic relationship of Chinese water chestnuts growing in Australia was assessed by using random amplified polymorphic DNAs (RAPDs). For the genetic analysis of wild putative E. dulcis, three primers separated the samples from 9 out of 10 sites into two distinct groups: E. dulcis and E. sphacelata. In the genetic analysis of samples from cultivated E. dulcis plants, 96 RAPD markers generated by 14 primers separated the samples from Taiwan (var. Shu-Lin), Hangzhou, China (cv. Da Hong Bao), New South Wales, Australia (unknown variety) and the USA (unknown variety) from the rest of the samples from Australia. The remaining samples were too closely related (0.74-4.4% dissimilarity) to be differentiated. Secondly, the possibility to extend availability of fresh Chinese water chestnut corms by physiological manipulation (photoperiod control) was evaluated in four photoperiod experiments. When measured, above -ground growth and dry matter production of the whole plants were not significantly affected by photoperiods (8-24 h). However, corm formation was strongly retarded by long days and promoted by the photoperiod which was shorter than a critical value. Under shorter days, significantly more dry matter was shifted towards corms as well as rhizomes, an effect that became more pronounced as the period of treatment was lengthened. Thirdly, Chinese water chestnut production in relation to harvest date and cold storage of 'seed' corms was investigated in two experiments. In the first experiment, March -planted plants were harvested from July to September. Mature corms from each harvest were subsequently stored at 4°C. In terms of corm formation and maturation as well as soluble sugar concentration in mature corms, the harvests in August were more favorable. After storage at 4°C for 86 d (harvest on 24 September) to 159 d (harvest on 15 July), no sign of rot nor flesh deterioration was observed. Loss of fresh weight ranged from 0.46% to 6% with the lower value associated with the shorter storage duration. Corm germination was also favored by shorter storage period. The highest values for the number of sprouts and stems per viable corm and the length of the longest stem per viable corm were obtained from the harvests on 29  July (139 d storage), 13 August (130 d storage) and 27 August (116 d storage) respectively. In the second experiment, corms harvested on different dates over the period July to November were stored at 4°C for four different periods prior to planting. Both harvest date and cold -storage duration exhibited significant influence on soluble solid content (°Brix) with the highest values for the first harvest and no cold storage, although the average °Brix value was low for all treatments. Harvest date and cold -storage duration also showed significant effects on corm sprouting performance evaluated as the number of sprouts and stems, and the length of the longest stem per viable corm. Average yield per plant showed little difference across `seed' corm harvest dates with the exception of the last. The fresh weight of individual corms was significantly affected by 'seed' corm harvest date but not by storage duration. Fourthly, the possibility of Chinese water chestnut in vitro culture was investigated with several different explants and culture media. Among all the explants examined, only young rhizome nodes and tips, dormant buds and corm skin with bud scars (buds removed) responded to in vitro culture by the production of shoots or shoot clusters. Root initiation was readily stimulated in the derived microshoots. The test tube plantlets were successfully transferred to the screenhouse, and their subsequent performance compared favorably with that of corm -derived plants.  Lastly, a putative Chinese water chestnut disease, tip yellowing and brown stem lesions, which was observed in the greenhouse and in the field, was studied. As no corresponding symptoms showed up when healthy plants were inoculated with spores derived from the isolates obtained from affected tissue, a nutritional disorder, perhaps potassium deficiency, was therefore suggested to have been responsible for the symptoms. </p

Tandem Chemical Depolymerization and Photoreforming of Waste PET Plastic to High-Value-Added Chemicals

Photoreforming of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) wastes to high-value-added chemicals is an emerging and promising approach. Nonetheless, a major obstacle is the harsh alkaline pretreatment (COH– = 5–10 M) to depolymerize PET, resulting in a surge in processing costs and also posing great challenges to subsequent photocatalytic devices, catalysts, and photocatalytic efficiency. Herein, we introduce a tandem process of chemical depolymerization and photoreforming of waste PET plastics. Depolymerization of PET to monomers is achieved through an intramolecular hydrolysis mechanism on a binuclear zinc catalyst under mild conditions (COH– ≤ 0.1 M and T ≤ 60 °C). Compared with the traditional harsh alkali pretreatment, the depolymerization rate can be increased by nearly an order of magnitude due to the proximity effect of the bimetallic sites. Technoeconomic analysis shows that processing 50,000 tons of plastic annually can save 15.2 million USD. The photoreforming of PET to formic acid and H2 with an impressive production rate of 2000 μmol gcat–1 h–1 was achieved on an ultrasmall carbon nitride nanosphere photocatalyst, which is nearly 5-fold higher than the corresponding strong alkali pretreatment system. Mechanism research reveals high photocatalytic activity thanks to the mild PET pretreatment and the efficient electron–hole separation caused by the ultrasmall carbon nitride nanosphere size structure and the electron capture effect of metal Pt. We also demonstrate a gram-scale integrated process for real-world PET plastic wastes including water bottles, clothing fibers, towels, carpets, and mixed plastics containing PET. Our study establishes a new concept of tandem catalysis to reduce the harsh pretreatment of PET by using a synthetic catalyst in polyester plastic photoreforming technology

Coupling Waste Plastic Upgrading and CO₂ Photoreduction to High-Value Chemicals by a Binuclear Re–Ru Heterogeneous Catalyst

Photocatalytically converting waste plastic to high-value chemicals is an energy-efficient and promising approach. Nonetheless, the limited photocatalytic efficiency due to the extremely low water solubility of the plastic and the excessive release of CO2 caused by overoxidation during the reaction seriously restricts its practical application. Herein, we propose a tandem process of waste Poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) plastic degradation and CO2 photoreduction on a chelating-ligand-anchored binuclear Re–Ru molecular heterogeneous catalyst. Specifically, waste PET plastics are depolymerized and photo-oxidized to monomers and formic acid on the molecular Ru sites, while the CO2 gas externally purged and generated in situ is photoreduced to CO with an impressive TON of 115 on the molecular Re sites. Compared with the corresponding homogeneous catalyst, the product selectivity is significantly improved from 65 to 95% in water-containing systems, and the TON is also greatly increased by nearly 19 times. Experiments and density functional theory calculations reveal that the high photocatalytic performance is attributed to the significantly enhanced light-capture capability, efficient photogenerated electron transfer between bimetallic Re–Ru sites, and substantially enhanced CO2-trapping capacity by finely regulating the chelating-ligand-based organosilica nanotube framework structure. The real-world application in nature seawater indicates that this work will provide a practical and feasible technical route for the disposal of waste plastics and mitigating carbon emissions under environmental conditions

Swimming activity of zebrafish 5 dpf larvae from <i>Sapje</i> and <i>Candyfloss</i> mutants (<i>Sap</i>, <i>Caf</i>, <i>n = 4–5</i>) and from their normal siblings (<i>Sib</i>, <i>n = 20–21</i>).

<p>All larvae were monitored for 2 minutes at room temperature.</p

General development of zebrafish 4 dpf larvae from <i>Sapje</i> and <i>Candyfloss</i> mutants (<i>Sap</i>, <i>Caf</i>) and from their normal siblings (<i>Sib</i>), after incubation with 0.1% DSMO or 50 μM BTS; n = 3–5 in each group.

<p>General development of zebrafish 4 dpf larvae from <i>Sapje</i> and <i>Candyfloss</i> mutants (<i>Sap</i>, <i>Caf</i>) and from their normal siblings (<i>Sib</i>), after incubation with 0.1% DSMO or 50 μM BTS; n = 3–5 in each group.</p

Early immobilization by BTS prevents muscle structural changes in <i>Candyfloss</i> (<i>Caf</i>) mutant larvae and their normal siblings (<i>Sib</i>) at 4 dpf.

<p>Upper panels: birefringence microscopy of <i>Caf</i> and siblings from 0.1% DMSO and 50 μM BTS treatment respectively. Lower panels: whole mount preparations with Rhodamine phalloidin staining. Arrows indicate altered areas. These illustrations were typical of n = 6 Rhodamine phalloidin stained samples per each group, in 3 treatment sets. Scale bars: 1 mm (upper); 50 μm (lower).</p

Active force measurements from <i>Sapje (Sap)</i>, <i>Candyfloss (Caf)</i> mutant larvae and their siblings (<i>Sib</i>) at 4 dpf.

<p>Panel A -C show representative force traces of single twitch contraction from a sibling, <i>Sap</i> and <i>Caf</i> mutant larva respectively. Panel D shows the summarised data from 4 dpf <i>Sap</i> (filled bars), <i>Caf</i> mutant (hatched bars) and <i>Sib</i> larvae (open bars) with, or without BTS immobilization. ***, p<0.001 compared to the <i>Sib</i> in DMSO (ANOVA, Holm-Sidak method). No significant difference was detected between the BTS treated groups. n = 4–10 in <i>Sib</i> groups; n = 3–5 in <i>Sap</i> and <i>Caf</i> groups.</p

Quantification of birefringence intensity in normal siblings (<i>Sib</i>, open bars) and mutated larvae of <i>Sapje</i> (<i>Sap</i>, filled bars) and <i>Candyfloss</i> (<i>Caf</i>, hatched bars), at 4 dpf.

<p>Larvae were treated with 0.1% DMSO or 50 μM BTS. n = 3–4 in each group. **, p< 0.01 *** p< 0.001 compared to the <i>Sib</i> in DMSO, ###, p<0.001 compared to the mutants (<i>Caf</i> or <i>Sap</i>) in DMSO (ANOVA, Holm-Sidak method). No significant difference was detected between the BTS treated groups.</p