Charge ordering and the related structural phase transition in single crystal Bi0.24Ca0.76MnO3

[[abstract]]A single crystal of ~Bi0.24Ca0.76!MnO3 has been extensively studied using both laboratory and synchrotron radiation x-ray scattering. Using x-ray techniques we can directly observe the formation of charge stripes associated with the low-temperature structural phase transition. Weak satellite peaks with a modulation wave vector q'(0.24, 0.24, 0) were observed below the transition temperature. These are associated with the charge ordering of Mn31 and Mn41 ions into charge ~and spin! stripes within the perovskite structure. Measurements of the temperature dependence of the intensity and width of the charge-ordering satellites over the temperature range 10–240 K were also completed. These demonstrate the first-order nature of the structural phase transition that accompanies the formation of charge and spin ordering. Measurements of the width of the charge-order satellites demonstrate that the correlation length of the charge order is long range at all temperatures, and in all directions, below the structural phase transition.[[incitationindex]]SCI[[booktype]]紙

Path Planning of an Autonomous Surface Vehicle based on Artificial Potential Fields in a Real Time Marine Environment

With growing advances in technology and the everyday dependence on oceans for resources, the role of unmanned marine vehicles has increased many a fold. Extensive operations having naval, civil and scientific applications are being undertaken and demands are being placed on them to increase their flexibility and adaptability. A key factor for such vehicles is the requirement for them to possess a path planning subsystem. Most path planning techniques are implemented in self-simulated environments. This study accounts for use of artificial potential field in path planning of an autonomous surface vehicle (ASV) in a real time marine environment. Path cost, path length and computational time are described to ensure the effectiveness of the motion planning

Towards use of Dijkstra Algorithm for Optimal Navigation of an Unmanned Surface Vehicle in a Real-Time Marine Environment with Results from Artificial Potential Field

The growing need of ocean surveying and exploration for scientific and industrial application has led to the requirement of routing strategies for ocean vehicles which are optimal in nature. Most of the optimal path planning for marine vehicles had been conducted offline in a self‐made environment. This paper takes into account a practical marine environment, i.e. Portsmouth Harbour, for finding an optimal path in terms of computational time between source and end points on a real time map for an USV. The current study makes use of a grid map generated from original and uses a Dijkstra algorithm to find the shortest path for a single USV. In order to benchmark the study, a path planning study using a well‐known local path planning method artificial path planning (APF) has been conducted in a real time marine environment and effectiveness is measured in terms of path length and computational time

Titration Microcalorimetry Study: Interaction of Drug and Ionic Microgel System

Doxorubicin (DOX) and Pluronic-PAA interaction was investigated using isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC). DOX/polymer interaction is governed primarily by electrostatic interaction. The uptake of DOX results in the formation of insoluble polymer/DOX complex. Addition of salt weakens the interaction of drug and polymer by charge shielding effect between positive ionized amino group on DOX and oppositely charged polymer chains. However high drug-loading capacity in high salt condition implied that self-association property of DOX also play a role in the drug loading process.Singapore-MIT Alliance (SMA

Synthesis and Aggregation Behavior of Pluronic F87/Poly(acrylic acid) Block Copolymer with Doxorubicin

Poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) was grafted onto both termini of Pluronic F87 (PEO₆₇-PPO₃₉-PEO₆₇) via atom transfer radical polymerization to produce a novel muco-adhesive block copolymer PAA₈₀-b-F₈₇-b-PAA₈₀. It was observed that PAA₈₀-F₈₇-PAA₈₀ forms stable complexes with weakly basic anti-cancer drug, Doxorubicin. Thermodynamic changes due to the drug binding to the copolymer were assessed at different pH by isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC). The formation of the polymer/drug complexes was studied by turbidimetric titration and dynamic light scattering. Doxorubicin and PAA-b-F87-b-PAA block copolymer are found to interact strongly in aqueous solution via non-covalent interactions over a wide pH range. At pH>4.35, drug binding is due to electrostatic interactions. Hydrogen-bond also plays a role in the stabilization of the PAA₈₀-F₈₇-PAA₈₀/DOX complex. At pH 7.4 (α=0.8), the size and stability of polymer/drug complex depend strongly on the doxorubicin concentration. When CDOX 0.13mM, as suggested by the light scattering result, the reorganization of the polymer/drug complex is believed to occur. With further addition of DOX (CDOX >0.34mM), sharp increase in the turbidity indicates the formation of large aggregates, followed by phase separation. The onset of a sharp enthalpy increase corresponds to the formation of a stoichiometric complex.Singapore-MIT Alliance (SMA

Aqueous one-pot synthesis of epoxy-functional diblock copolymer worms from a single monomer: new anisotropic scaffolds for potential charge storage applications

Nitroxide-functional polymers have garnered considerable interest in recent years and appear to hold promise for energy storage applications. However, their synthesis can be both expensive and time-consuming. Here, we propose a highly convenient method for the preparation of TEMPO-functional diblock copolymer nanoparticles directly in water. Epoxy-functional diblock copolymer worms are synthesized from a single monomer, glycidyl methacrylate (GlyMA), using a three-step, one-pot protocol in aqueous solution via polymerization-induced self-assembly (PISA). First, an initial aqueous emulsion of GlyMA was heated at 85 °C for 9 h to afford an aqueous solution of glycerol monomethacrylate (GMA). Then reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization of GMA was conducted in aqueous solution using a dicarboxylic acid-based RAFT agent to produce a water-soluble PGMA homopolymer. Finally, chain extension of this precursor block via RAFT aqueous emulsion polymerization of GlyMA at 50 °C produced amphiphilic diblock copolymer chains that self-assembled in situ to form a 15% w/w aqueous dispersion of diblock copolymer worms. These worms can be derivatized directly using 4-amino-TEMPO in aqueous solution, affording novel crosslinked anisotropic nanoparticles that contain a relatively high density of stable nitroxide radicals for potential charge storage applications

Advanced Feature Extraction and Dimensionality Reduction for Unmanned Underwater Vehicle Fault Diagnosis

This paper presents a novel approach to the diagnosis of blade faults in an electric thruster motor of unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs) under stationary operating conditions. The diagnostic approach is based on the use of discrete wavelet transforms (DWT) as a feature extraction tool and a dynamic neural network (DNN) for fault classification. The DNN classifies between healthy and faulty conditions of the trolling motor by analyzing the stator current and vibration signals. To overcome feature redundancy, which affects diagnosis reliability, the Orthogonal Fuzzy Neighbourhood Discriminant Analysis (OFNDA) approach is found to be the most effective. Four faulty conditions were analyzed under laboratory conditions, and the results obtained from experiment demonstrate the effectiveness and reliability of the proposed methodology in classifying the different faults faster and more accurately

The relationship between particle morphology and rheological properties in injectable nano-hydroxyapatite bone graft substitutes

Biomaterials composed of hydroxyapatite (HA) are currently used for the treatment of bone defects resulting from trauma or surgery. However, hydroxyapatite supplied in the form of a paste is considered a very convenient medical device compared to the materials where HA powder and liquid need to be mixed immediately prior to the bone treatment during surgery. In this study we have tested a series of hydroxyapatite (HA) pastes with varying microstructure and different rheological behaviour to evaluate their injectability and biocompatibility. The particle morphology and chemical composition were evaluated using HRTEM, XRD and FTIR. Two paste-types were compared, with the HA particles of both types being rod shaped with a range of sizes between 20 and 80 nm while differing in the particle aspect ratio and the degree of roundness or sharpness. The pastes were composed of pure HA phase with low crystallinity. The rheological properties were evaluated and it was determined that the pastes behaved as shear-thinning, non-Newtonian liquids. The difference in viscosity and yield stress between the two pastes was investigated. Surprisingly, mixing of these pastes at different ratios did not alter viscosity in a linear manner, providing an opportunity to produce a specific viscosity by mixing the two materials with different characteristics. Biocompatibility studies suggested that there was no difference in vitro cell response to either paste for primary osteoblasts, bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells, osteoblast-like cells, and fibroblast-like cells. This class of nanostructured biomaterial has significant potential for use as an injectable bone graft substitute where the properties may be tailored for different clinical indications

Enhanced Support for High Intensity Users of the Criminal Justice System – an evaluation of mental health nurse input into Integrated Offender Management Services in the North East of England

The current UK Government’s focus on the development of services to manage and support offenders with mental health problems has resulted in a number of innovative project developments. This research examines a service development in the North East of England which co-located Mental Health nurses with two Integrated Offender Management teams. While not solving all problems, the benefits of co-location were clear – although such innovations are now at risk from government changes which will make Integrated Offender Management the responsibility of new providers without compelling them to co-operate with health services

Optimal path planning of unmanned surface vehicles

The publisher has released this paper this under the Creative Commons CC BY-NC-ND licence. This release is used to provide the authority for open access deposit in Pearl, but please note that the licence forbids commercial use and the distribution of derivative works.Present study reviews the current methodologies adopted for optimal path planning of single unmanned surface vehicles and studies associated with swarm of unmanned surface vehicles. This also discusses the challenges and scopes, which can act as objectives, for future research towards path planning of such marine craft