Clear Experimental Signature of Charge-Orbital density wave in Nd1−x_{1-x}Ca1+x_{1+x}MnO4_{4}

Single Crystals of Nd$_{1-x}$Ca$_{1+x}$MnO$_{4}$ have been prepared by the travelling floating-zone method, and possible evidence of a charge -orbital density wave in this material presented earlier [PRB68,092405 (2003)] using High Resolution Electron Microscopy [HRTEM] and Electron Diffraction [ED]. In the current note we present direct evidence of charge-orbital ordering in this material using heat capacity measurements. Our heat capacity measurements indicate a clear transition consistent with prior observation. We find two main transitions, one at temperature $T_{_H}=310-314$ K, and other at $T_{_A}=143$ K. In addition, we may also conclude that there is a strong electron-phonon coupling in this material.Comment: 7 pages, 8 figure

Variable structure based control strategy for treatment of HCV infection

Hepatitis C is such a harmful disease which can lead to serious health problems and it is caused by the Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) which causes liver inflammation and sometimes liver cancer. In this work, the control treatment strategy for HCV infection has been proposed. The advanced nonlinear dynamical mathematical model of HCV that has two control inputs and three state variables such as virions, infected hepatocytes and uninfected hepatocytes are considered for controller design in this research work. Moreover, four nonlinear controllers such as the Fractional Order Terminal Sliding Mode Controller (FOTSMC), Integral Terminal Sliding Mode Controller (ITSMC), Double Integral Sliding Mode Controller (DISMC) and Integral Sliding Mode Controller (ISMC) have been proposed in this work for HCV infection control inside the human body. In order to control the amount of uninfected hepatocytes to its required maximum safe limit, controllers are designed for antiviral therapy in which the amount of virions and infected hepatocytes are tracked to zero. One control input is ribavirin which blocks virions production and the other is pegylated interferon (peg-IFN-a) that acts as reducing infected hepatocytes. By doing so, uninfected hepatocytes increase and achieve the required maximum safe limit. To prove the stability of the whole system, Lyapunov stability analysis is used in this work. Simulation results and comparative analysis are carried out by using MATLAB/Simulink. It can be depicted from the given results that the virions and infected hepatocytes are reduced to their required levels completely using FOTSMC and the Sustained Virologic Response (SVR) rate is also enhanced in it. It reduces the treatment period as compared to previous strategies introduced in the literature and also system behaves very nicely even in the presence of un-modeled disturbances

Variable Structure-Based Control for Dynamic Temperature Setpoint Regulation in Hospital Extreme Healthcare Zones

In critical healthcare units, such as operation theaters and intensive care units, healthcare workers require specific temperature environments at different stages of an operation, which depends upon the condition of the patient and the requirements of the surgical procedures. Therefore, the need for a dynamically controlled temperature environment and the availability of the required heating/cooling electric power is relatively more necessary for the provision of a better healthcare environment as compared to other commercial and residential buildings, where only comfortable room temperature is required. In order to establish a dynamic temperature zone, a setpoint regulator is required that can control the zone temperature with a fast dynamic response, little overshoot, and a low settling time. Thus, two zone temperature regulators have been proposed in this article, including double integral sliding mode control (DISMC) and integral terminal sliding mode control (ITSMC). A realistic scenario of a hospital operation theater is considered for evaluating their responses and performance to desired temperature setpoints. The performance analysis and superiority of the proposed controllers have been established by comparison with an already installed Johnson temperature controller (JTC) for various time spans and specific environmental conditions that require setpoints based on doctors’ and patients’ desires. The proposed controllers showed minimal overshoot and a fast settling response, making them ideal controllers for operation theater (OT) zone temperature control

Fcc breathing instability in BaBiO_3 from first principles

We present first-principles density-functional calculations using the local density approximation to investigate the structural instability of cubic perovskite BaBiO_3. This material might exhibit charge disproportionation and some evidence thereof has been linked to the appearance of an additional, fourth peak in the experimental IR spectrum. However, our results suggest that the origin of this additional peak can be understood within the picture of a simple structural instability. While the true instability consists of an oxygen-octahedra breathing distortion and a small octahedra rotation, we find that the breathing alone in a fcc-type cell doubling is sufficient to explain the fourth peak in the IR spectrum. Our results show that the oscillator strength of this particular mode is of the same order of magnitude as the other three modes, in agreement with experiment.Comment: submitted to PRB, completely revised version after referee repor

Economic Diversification and the Urban Image; Changing the Narrative on Street Vending

Street vending is a dynamic phenomenon of network of events, socio-economic and cultural factors while remaining a narration of place. At the metropolitan level, the narrative is negatively skewed towards street vending and its aesthetic reality, contemporaneously exploring hostile environmental interventions within the informal sector. This paper attempted to explore a counter-narrative asking; based on aesthetic experience, can the “desired” urban image be achieved by allowing street vendors proliferate in public spaces? This question was asked within the scope of the political-economy of diversification in Nigeria. Mapping over google satellite images over critical periods leading to demolitions and/or developments, this paper documented the spatial distribution of vendors to determine the urban centres that are hostile to vending activities and those that were not. The paper argued that, around public spaces such as parks and sidewalks, the precarious nature of vending activities lead to their diffidence in upgrades to stalls, tables and kiosks. With pictures from spaces that appear to approve of street vending tacitly, a pattern of upgrades in vending apparatus and kiosks were established. This paper proposes an integrative model of passive, active and tacit support that is required to influence the discourse of vending activities within the context of urban images produced in Nigerian. In conclusion and using sing Gouverneur (2014) concepts of receptors and transformers, this paper revealed that potential existing parks within a dense urban area could serve as transformers, creating an urban image that defies that “out of place” narrative associated with vendors

Performance of Silicon Solar Cell with Various Surface Textures

The performance of solar cell with various surface texture patterns was reported. Wet, RIE, one and two dimensions texturing with and without the nitride antireflection coating were compared. An I-V tester calibrated by Sandia National Laboratory was used. The surface texture of the solar cells were as follows (a) solar cell with 2D texturing without nitride antireflection, (b) solar cell with 1D texturing with nitride antireflection (c) solar cell with 1D texturing without nitride antireflection, (d) solar cell with wet texturing without nitride antireflection, (e) solar cell with wet texturing with nitride antireflection (f) solar cell with RIE texturing with nitride antireflection. RIE and two dimension surface texturing showed the best output with maximum short density current of 0.042 mA/cm2 and of 0.045 mA/cm2 respectively

Mechanical Properties of Epoxy Composites Containing Carbon Black and Graphene

Epoxy composite has been widely used in various industrial applications due to its high strength. Nevertheless, its high strength causes it to fracture easily. Fillers are often added to improve its fracture toughness and other properties. In this work, epoxy composites containing carbon black (CB) and graphene have been synthesized to assess their mechanical properties. Series of analysis have been performed on composites containing single filler (CB or graphene) of various loadings to evaluate the values of Young’s Modulus, yield strength, and KIC. The results demonstrate an improvement in Young’s Modulus, yield strength, and KIC values by adding different carbon fillers, compared to neat epoxy. Based on these results, composites containing dual fillers are fabricated to understand the resultant synergistic effects. The hy-brid fillers show an increment in both fracture toughness and yield strength test for the epoxy composite with an optimum improvement at (3.0 wt.% CB + 0.1 wt.% Graphene) loading which is an increase of 256% in the values of Young’s Modulus, compared to neat epoxy. The addition of carbon fillers enhances the mechanical properties of epoxy composites, with dual fillers demonstrate the highest improve-ment, which could be due to the improvement in the dispersion degree

Review on Different Beneficial Ways of Applying Alum Sludge in a Sustainable Disposal Manner

Disposal of waste from water treatment plant is one of the major issues most treatment plants seem not to overcome due to the constant generation of this waste as a result of meeting the demand of water and purification of water for human consumption. The effect of disposing sludge constantly in the environment has called for an economical and sustainable way of reusing alum sludge. However, this paper aimed at reviewing the possible literature on applying waste from water treatment plant in various ways, example; in building material; as brick and tiles, in concrete ; as replacement of cement and aggregate, in Geotechnics; as soil stabilizer and in agriculture; as soil fertilizer, in pottery; use as replacement of clay in flower pot production for sustainable disposal. All the above mentioned categories of uses have reviled an effective and efficient way in managing waste from water treatment plant (alum sludge), also a safer and economical manner of disposal.  However, the effects when used and the behaviour when it is incorporated with other materials were highlighted, other reuse and disposal options where discussed and the areas not covered (knowledge gap) was identified

Some aspects of fisheries ecology in Thomas dam, Kano Nigeria

The diversity, length-weight relationship and condition factor of fish species of Thomas Dam, Dambatta Kano were studied fortnightly between November, 2016 and February, 2017. Fish species were collected using line nets, cast nets, hooks and traps; weighted to the nearest gram and standard length measured to the nearest centimeter. A total 313 fishes comprising of 7 families and 11 species were identified. Family cichlidae was predominant(36.7%) represented by T. zilli (21.7%) and Oreochromis niloticus (15.0%). Family Claridae was the second highest in abundance with 24.7% represented by C. garipienus (8.9%), Clarias anguillaris (8.9%) and Heterobranchus sp. (6.7) while Protopteridae represented by Protopterus sp. was the least with 2.8%. Species diversity determined by Shannon Weiner index of diversity, Evenness index and Margalef’s index which revealed the highest value at site A of 1.45, 0.78 and 2.66 while site D had the least with 1.1, 0.64 and 1.72 respectively. Growth coefficient b of the length weight relationship ranged from 0.9 to 2.7 inHeterobranchussp. andClariasgariepinus. The b values of the all the fish species is less than the mean exponent b =3, indicating a negative allometric growth. Condition factor (K) for all fish species differed significantly (P<0.05) as the highest value was recorded in Mormyrus rume and Heterobranchus sp. with 1.9 each and the least were C. gariepinus and C. anguillaris, protopterus sp. and Labeo senegalensis each had 0.9 values respectively. The mean condition factor (K) by species was greater than 1, indicating that the fish species were not in good condition.KEY WORDS: Species diversity, Length-weight relationship, Condition factor, Allometric growth, Thomas Dam, Dambatta Kano State

Quantum Games with Correlated Noise

We analyze quantum game with correlated noise through generalized quantization scheme. Four different combinations on the basis of entanglement of initial quantum state and the measurement basis are analyzed. It is shown that the advantage that a quantum player can get by exploiting quantum strategies is only valid when both the initial quantum state and the measurement basis are in entangled form. Furthermore, it is shown that for maximum correlation the effects of decoherence diminish and it behaves as a noiseless game.Comment: 12 page