Bending and Breaking of Stripes in a Charge-Ordered Manganite

In complex electronic materials, coupling between electrons and the atomic lattice gives rise to remarkable phenomena, including colossal magnetoresistance and metal-insulator transitions. Charge-ordered phases are a prototypical manifestation of charge-lattice coupling, in which the atomic lattice undergoes periodic lattice displacements (PLDs). Here we directly map the picometer scale PLDs at individual atomic columns in the room temperature charge-ordered manganite Bi$_{0.35}$Sr$_{0.18}$Ca$_{0.47}$MnO$_3$ using aberration corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM). We measure transverse, displacive lattice modulations of the cations, distinct from existing manganite charge-order models. We reveal locally unidirectional striped PLD domains as small as $\sim$5 nm, despite apparent bidirectionality over larger length scales. Further, we observe a direct link between disorder in one lattice modulation, in the form of dislocations and shear deformations, and nascent order in the perpendicular modulation. By examining the defects and symmetries of PLDs near the charge-ordering phase transition, we directly visualize the local competition underpinning spatial heterogeneity in a complex oxide.Comment: Main text: 20 pages, 4 figures. Supplemental Information: 27 pages, 14 figure

Commensurate Stripes and Phase Coherence in Manganites Revealed with Cryogenic Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy

Incommensurate charge order in hole-doped oxides is intertwined with exotic phenomena such as colossal magnetoresistance, high-temperature superconductivity, and electronic nematicity. Here, we map at atomic resolution the nature of incommensurate order in a manganite using scanning transmission electron microscopy at room temperature and cryogenic temperature ($\sim$ 93K). In diffraction, the ordering wavevector changes upon cooling, a behavior typically associated with incommensurate order. However, using real space measurements, we discover that the underlying ordered state is lattice-commensurate at both temperatures. The cations undergo picometer-scale ($\sim$6-11 pm) transverse displacements, which suggests that charge-lattice coupling is strong and hence favors lattice-locked modulations. We further unearth phase inhomogeneity in the periodic lattice displacements at room temperature, and emergent phase coherence at 93K. Such local phase variations not only govern the long range correlations of the charge-ordered state, but also results in apparent shifts in the ordering wavevector. These atomically-resolved observations underscore the importance of lattice coupling and provide a microscopic explanation for putative "incommensurate" order in hole-doped oxides

Effects of fuel ratio on performance and emission of diesel-compressed natural gas (CNG) dual fuel engine

Recent research breakthrough reveals that diesel-CNG dual fuel (DDF) combustion can potentially reduce exhaust emission of internal combustion engines. However, problem arises when knock phenomenon occurs producing high carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrocarbon (HC) emission due to uncontrolled blending ratio of diesel-CNG fuel on specific engine load. This study will determine the limit of dual fuel ratio before knock occurrence while analysing performance and exhaust emission of an engine operating with diesel and DDF fuel mode. A 2.5 litre 4-cylinder direct injection common-rail diesel engine was utilised as a test platform. The modelstested were 100% Diesel, 90% DDF, 80% DDF and 70% DDF, representing diesel to CNG mass ratio of 100:0, 90:10, 80:20 and 70:30 respectively. It was found that DDF engine performance was lower compared to diesel engine at 1500 rpm engine speed. At higher engine speed, the 70% DDF showed engine performance comparable to diesel engine. However, high HC emission with knock onset and a decrease of Nitrogen Oxide (NOX) emission were recorded. This study suggests the preferred limit of dual fuel ratio should not be lower than 70% DDF which will be able to operate at high engine speed without the occurrence of knock and poor exhaust emission

Antioxidant, antimicrobial and antiviral properties of herbal materials

Recently, increasing public concern about hygiene has been driving many studies to investigate antimicrobial and antiviral agents. However, the use of any antimicrobial agents must be limited due to their possible toxic or harmful effects. In recent years, due to previous antibiotics’ lesser side effects, the use of herbal materials instead of synthetic or chemical drugs is increasing. Herbal materials are found in medicines. Herbs can be used in the form of plant extracts or as their active components. Furthermore, most of the world’s populations used herbal materials due to their strong antimicrobial properties and primary healthcare benefits. For example, herbs are an excellent material to replace nanosilver as an antibiotic and antiviral agent. The use of nanosilver involves an ROS-mediated mechanism that might lead to oxidative stress-related cancer, cytotoxicity, and heart diseases. Oxidative stress further leads to increased ROS production and also delays the cellular processes involved in wound healing. Therefore, existing antibiotic drugs can be replaced with biomaterials such as herbal medicine with high antimicrobial, antiviral, and antioxidant activity. This review paper highlights the antibacterial, antiviral, and radical scavenger (antioxidant) properties of herbal materials. Antimicrobial activity, radical scavenger ability, the potential for antimicrobial, antiviral, and anticancer agents, and efficacy in eliminating bacteria and viruses and scavenging free radicals in herbal materials are discussed in this review. The presented herbal antimicrobial agents in this review include clove, portulaca, tribulus, eryngium, cinnamon, turmeric, ginger, thyme, pennyroyal, mint, fennel, chamomile, burdock, eucalyptus, primrose, lemon balm, mallow, and garlic, which are all summarized. © 2020 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland

Electrospun Nano-fibers for biomedical and tissue engineering applications: A comprehensive review

Pharmaceutical nano-fibers have attracted widespread attention fromresearchers for reasons such as adaptability of the electro-spinning process and ease of production. As a flexible method for fabricating nano-fibers, electro-spinning is extensively used. An electro-spinning unit is composed of a pump or syringe, a high voltage current supplier, a metal plate collector and a spinneret. Optimization of the attained nano-fibers is undertaken through manipulation of the variables of the process and formulation, including concentration, viscosity, molecular mass, and physical phenomenon, as well as the environmental parameters including temperature and humidity. The nano-fibers achieved by electro-spinning can be utilized for drug loading. The mixing of two or more medicines can be performed via electro-spinning. Facilitation or inhibition of the burst release of a drug can be achieved by the use of the electro-spinning approach. This potential is anticipated to facilitate progression in applications of drug release modification and tissue engineering (TE). The present review aims to focus on electro-spinning, optimization parameters, pharmacological applications, biological characteristics, and in vivo analyses of the electro-spun nano-fibers. Furthermore, current developments and upcoming investigation directions are outlined for the advancement of electro-spun nano-fibers for TE. Moreover, the possible applications, complications and future developments of these nano-fibers are summarized in detail. © 2020 by the authors

Low Mach number effect in simulation of high Mach number flow

In this note, we relate the two well-known difficulties of Godunov schemes: the carbuncle phenomena in simulating high Mach number flow, and the inaccurate pressure profile in simulating low Mach number flow. We introduced two simple low-Mach-number modifications for the classical Roe flux to decrease the difference between the acoustic and advection contributions of the numerical dissipation. While the first modification increases the local numerical dissipation, the second decreases it. The numerical tests on the double-Mach reflection problem show that both modifications eliminate the kinked Mach stem suffered by the original flux. These results suggest that, other than insufficient numerical dissipation near the shock front, the carbuncle phenomena is strongly relevant to the non-comparable acoustic and advection contributions of the numerical dissipation produced by Godunov schemes due to the low Mach number effect.Comment: 9 pages, 1 figur

Demystifying communication signal lost for network redundancy connectivity: evidence from coverage analysis studies on AMR systemarticle

These studies report on the communication signal lost factors that were analyzed and supported by evidences on coverage analysis activities for Automatic Meter Reading (AMR) systems. We have categorized the influential signal lost factors into four core elements that were concluded based on our field measurement studies. We have conducted measurement on Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) parameter and outline the steps and techniques of such research activity. Our results show that a single network connection might not be able to support for reliable Internet network connectivity for critical communication device like AMR system. Hence, applying network redundancy technique into developing a more functional communication module could be an effective solution to combat the issue on signal lost for AMR meters.Keywords: Signal strength; AMR; Cognitive Network Selection; Network redundancy;Signal lost

Active involvement of students in co-curriculum (sports) versus generic skills

The active involvement of students in sports activities is viewed from different levels of achievement beginning with the national representation of the residential colleges, faculties, and universities in prestigious sporting events at international levels. The skills that are developed through extra-curricular activities are generic skills. The involvement of students in co-curricular activities can help to shape their generic skills, thus leading to self-promotion in the workplace. Therefore, the purpose of this research was to examine the enhancement of generic skills among engineering and technical students of UTHM who are actively involved in co-curricular activities (sports). This study will focus on identifying the factors of involvement, the level of application among students, and the perceptions of the students through their active involvement in extra-curricular activities (sports). A survey was conducted using a quantitative approach. A general questionnaire, which was designed to fulfil the objectives and to answer the research questions for this study, was distributed to 213 engineering and technical student athletes of UTHM who are actively involved in co-curricular activities (sports). It was found that the engineering and technical student athletes of UTHM agreed that their active involvement in extra-curricular activities (sports) was due to interpersonal, intrapersonal and structural factors. The results showed that out of seven generic skills, three constructs of generic skills, namely communication, teamwork and management, demonstrate a high level of application through active involvement in extra-curricular activities (sports). These findings may also help the university to focus on the development of generic skills in engineering and technical students through co-curricular activities (sports) in addition to producing athletes who are able to create a name for the university at national or international level

Uniqueness of nontrivially complete monotonicity for a class of functions involving polygamma functions

For $m,n\in\mathbb{N}$, let $f_{m,n}(x)=\bigr[\psi^{(m)}(x)\bigl]^2+\psi^{(n)}(x)$ on $(0,\infty)$. In the present paper, we prove using two methods that, among all $f_{m,n}(x)$ for $m,n\in\mathbb{N}$, only $f_{1,2}(x)$ is nontrivially completely monotonic on $(0,\infty)$. Accurately, the functions $f_{1,2}(x)$ and $f_{m,2n-1}(x)$ are completely monotonic on $(0,\infty)$, but the functions $f_{m,2n}(x)$ for $(m,n)\ne(1,1)$ are not monotonic and does not keep the same sign on $(0,\infty)$.Comment: 9 page