RELIABILITY OF A NOVEL PRINTED PIEZORESISTIVE PRESSURE SENSOR

Printed pressure sensors have the potential to be useful for measuring pressure in a multitude of sports biomechanics applications. This study was a proof of concept of a novel printed piezoresistive pressure sensor array with the aim of assessing the reliability of the sensor. The relationship between the force applied to the sensor and resistance was well described by an exponential equation (r2 \u3e 0.962), which provides confidence in the piezoresistive nature of the response. This demonstrates that, with further refinement and development, the currently-designed pressure sensor array has the potential to measure pressure during field-based sporting movements. Further research and development are required to improve reliability and to test sensor performance under dynamic loading conditions similar to those typically experienced in sport

Rheology of high-aspect-ratio nanocarbons dispersed in a low-viscosity fluid

Printing inks typically consist of a functional component dispersed within a low-viscosity resin/solvent system where interparticle interactions would be expected to play a significant role in dispersion, especially for the high-aspect-ratio nanocarbons such as the graphite nanoplatelets (GNPs). Rheology has been suggested as a method for assessing the dispersion of carbon nanomaterials in a fluid. The effects of phase volume of ammonia plasma-functionalized GNPs on a near-Newtonian low-viscosity thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) resin system have been studied using shear and quiescent oscillatory rheology. At low concentrations, the GNPs were well dispersed with a similar shear profile and viscoelastic behavior to the unfilled TPU resin, as viscous behavior prevailed indicating the absence of any long-range order within the fluid. Particle interactions increased rapidly as the phase volume tended toward maximum packing fraction, producing rapid increases in the relative viscosity, increased low shear rate shear thinning, and the elastic response becoming increasingly frequency independent. The nanoscale dimensions and high-aspect-ratio GNPs occupied a large volume within the flow, while small interparticle distances caused rapid increases in the particle–particle interactions to form flocculates that pack less effectively. Established rheological models were fitted to the experimental data to model the effect of high-aspect-ratio nanocarbon on the viscosity of a low-viscosity system. Using the intrinsic viscosity and the maximum packing fraction as fitting parameters, the Krieger–Dougherty (K–D) model provided the best fit with values. There was good agreement between the estimates of aspect ratio from the SEM images and the predictions of the aspect ratio from the rheological models. The fitting of the K–D model to measured viscosities at various phase volumes could be an effective method in characterizing the shape and dispersion of high-aspect-ratio nanocarbons

How Could Minority and Women's Rights be Protected in a United Ireland?

This is a report of a seminar held at Ulster University by the Equality Coalition and Transitional Justice Institute, supported by the Gender, Justice and Security Hub

Commercially available pressure sensors for sport and health applications: A comparative review

Pressure measurement systems have numerous applications in healthcare and sport. The purpose of this review is to: (a) describe the brief history of the development of pressure sensors for clinical and sport applications, (b) discuss the design requirements for pressure measurement systems for different applications, (c) critique the suitability, reliability, and validity of commercial pressure measurement systems, and (d) suggest future directions for the development of pressure measurements systems in this area. Commercial pressure measurement systems generally use capacitive or resistive sensors, and typically capacitive sensors have been reported to be more valid and reliable than resistive sensors for prolonged use. It is important to acknowledge, however, that the selection of sensors is contingent upon the specific application requirements. Recent improvements in sensor and wireless technology and computational power have resulted in systems that have higher sensor density and sampling frequency with improved usability – thinner, lighter platforms, some of which are wireless, and reduced the obtrusiveness of in-shoe systems due to wireless data transmission and smaller data-logger and control units. Future developments of pressure sensors should focus on the design of systems that can measure or accurately predict shear stresses in conjunction with pressure, as it is thought the combination of both contributes to the development of pressure ulcers and diabetic plantar ulcers. The focus for the development of in-shoe pressure measurement systems is to minimise any potential interference to the patient or athlete, and to reduce power consumption of the wireless systems to improve the battery life, so these systems can be used to monitor daily activity. A potential solution to reduce the obtrusiveness of in-shoe systems include thin flexible pressure sensors which can be incorporated into socks. Although some experimental systems are available further work is needed to improve their validity and reliability

Absence of a strong, deep-reaching Antarctic Circumpolar Current zonal flow across the Tasmanian gateway during the Oligocene to early Miocene

The vigorous eastward flow of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC) connects all major ocean basins and plays a prominent role in the transport of heat, carbon and nutrients around the globe. However, the establishment of a deep circumpolar flow, similar to the present-day ACC, remains controversial thereby obscuring our understanding of its climatic impact. Deciphering the chemical composition of Circumpolar Deep Water (CDW) within the ACC can provide critical insights about its development and evolution. Here we present new fossil fish teeth/bone debris neodymium isotope (ε) records from Deep Sea Drilling Project (DSDP) Sites 278 and 274 in the southwest Pacific Ocean, with the aim to trace changes in deep water masses across the Tasmanian Gateway between the early Oligocene and early Miocene (~ 33–22 Ma). Site 274 provides the first Nd isotope record proximal to the Ross Sea during the Oligocene (33.5–23.4 Ma). Its Nd isotope composition shows excursions to very radiogenic values, ε = −3.1 and ε − 3.7, at 33.5 Ma and 23.8 Ma, respectively, in response to major steps in Antarctic ice sheet expansion. A shift to lower, more unradiogenic ε values between 29.7 and 29.1 Ma is linked to an increased influence of proto-CDW upwelling at the site. In contrast, the Nd isotope record from Site 278 in the southern Emerald Basin shows little variability (ε = −6.0 to −6.7) throughout the Oligocene and early Miocene (30.9–21.8 Ma). Comparison with published data north of the ACC path, demonstrates the presence of two deep water masses in the South Pacific prior to the inferred onset of the ACC (33–30 Ma), one occupying depths between ~2500 and 3000 m (ε ~ −3 to −5) and a deep/bottom water mass (> 3000 m) with a more unradiogenic Nd isotope composition (ε ~ −6). Site 278 located close to the proto-polar front (proto-PF) indicates that following the inferred onset of the ACC, deep waters bathing the southern Emerald Basin remained more radiogenic in the Southwest Pacific compared to sites along the proto-PF in the South Atlantic and Indian Ocean (ε ~ −8.1). This indicates a provinciality in Nd isotope compositions of deep waters along the proto-PF across the Tasmanian Gateway. Our data are incompatible with the existence of a modern-like homogenous (lateral and vertical) Nd isotope composition of CDW along the main flow path of the ACC in all oceanic basins in the Oligocene to early Miocene. We attribute distinct Nd isotope compositions of deep waters across the Tasmanian Gateway to reflect a less deep reaching and weaker ACC (proto-ACC) than today. Our findings suggest that the modern strong and deep-reaching ACC flow must have been developed at a later point in the Neogene.Funding to this research is provided by the Alexander S. Onassis Public Benefit Foundation Ph.D. research grant: F ZL 016-1/2015-2016; the Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitivity (grants CTM2017-89711-C2-1/2-P), co-funded by the European Union through FEDER funds; and an ECORD Research grant awarded to DE. PKB and FH acknowledge funding through the European Research Council starting grant #802835 OceaNice and NWO polar programme grant ALWPP2016.001. This paper is a contribution to the SCAR PAIS Programme

Synthesis of 2D anatase TiO₂ with highly reactive facets by fluorine-free topochemical conversion of 1T-TiS₂ nanosheets

Two-dimensional (2D) anatase titanium dioxide (TiO(2)) is expected to exhibit different properties as compared to anatase nanocrystallites, due to its highly reactive exposed facets. However, access to 2D anatase TiO(2) is limited by the non-layered nature of the bulk crystal, which does not allow use of top-down chemical exfoliation. Large efforts have been dedicated to the growth of 2D anatase TiO(2) with high reactive facets by bottom-up approaches, which relies on the use of harmful chemical reagents. Here, we demonstrate a novel fluorine-free strategy based on topochemical conversion of 2D 1T-TiS(2) for the production of single crystalline 2D anatase TiO(2), exposing the {001} facet on the top and bottom and {100} at the sides of the nanosheet. The exposure of these faces, with no additional defects or doping, gives rise to a significant activity enhancement in the hydrogen evolution reaction, as compared to commercially available Degussa P25 TiO(2) nanoparticles. Because of the strong potential of TiO(2) in many energy-based applications, our topochemical approach offers a low cost, green and mass scalable route for production of highly crystalline anatase TiO(2) with well controlled and highly reactive exposed facets

Interactions of the Totten Glacier with the Southern Ocean through multiple glacial cycles (IN2017-V01): Post-survey report

The authors wish to thank the CSIRO Marine National Facility (MNF) for its support in the form of sea time on RV Investigator, support personnel, scientific equipment and data management. All data and samples acquired on the voyage are made publicly available in accordance with MNF Policy. All raw and processed data acquired by MNF equipment on MNF voyages will be archived by MNF data support staff in the enduring CSIRO Data Access Portal, https://data.csiro.au. Metadata records will be made publicly available at http://www.marlin.csiro.au. Processed data and data products will be made publicly available through Data Trawler http://www.cmar.csiro.au/data/trawler/index.cfm, the MNF web data access tool http://www.cmar.csiro.au/data/underway/, and/or from national or world data centres most suitable for the dissemination of particular data types.Other Australian Program Support Smaller projects have attracted funding to support research activities post-cruise these include the following: 1. Australian and New Zealand IODP Committee (ANZIC) Special Analytical Support Grant. Project Title: Using ancient phytoplankton communities and genes to illuminate future ocean responses. Researchers involved: L. Armand, L. Armbrecht, M. Ostrowski, & S. George. 2. Australian Antarctic Division Australian Antarctic Science Grant (#4320). Project Title: Characterising East Antarctic seabed habitats. Researchers involved: Post, A.L., & Smith, J. 3. Australian Antarctic Division Australian Antarctic Science Grant (#4419). Project Title: Response of the Totten Glacier to past climate warming. Researchers involved: Noble, T., Armand, L., Chase, Z., & Halpin, J.The Sabrina Sea Floor Survey was a major marine geoscience expedition to the Antarctic margin which took place between 14 January and 7 March 2017. It sailed on the Australian Marine National Facility vessel RV Investigator. This document describes survey activities, data collected on the ship and important metadata. Some preliminary results are included and the location of samples and data sets reported for future use. The report also provides information on data ownership and acknowledgement for future use and publication. It is intended as an aid to future research and use of results and has not been rigorously edited and peer-reviewed.Australian Research Council (DP170100557), Australian Antarctic Science Grant Program (AAS #4333), Italian Antarctic program support PNRA TYTAN Project (PdR 14_00119), Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitivity (MINECO) (CTM2015-60451-C2-1-P & CTM2015-60451-C2-2-P), United States National Science Foundation's Polar Program - Antarctic Integrated System Science. #1143834, 1143836, 1143837, 1143843, 1313826