Incremental motion drive system Patent

Incremental motion drive system applied to interferometer component

Motion drive system is accurately controlled in the 1-micron range

Motion drive system has been developed for use with interferometers where accurate control of minuscule distance in the 1-micron range is of prime importance. The drive system is applicable to any device that requires extremely accurate positioning control

In situ magnetoresistance measurements during patterning of spin valve devices

This dissertation describes an experimental study on the patterning of thin films and spin valve devices. Initially the change in the magnetisation reversal of ferromagnetic Ni$_{80}$Fe$_{15}$Mo$_{5}$ thin films was investigated as the shape anisotropy was increased using optical lithography to pattern wire arrays. These structures show a progressive increase in coercivity and a transition between single and two-stage reversal with increasing milling depth. A similar patterning technique was applied to unpinned (Ni$_{80}$Fe$_{20}$/Cu/Ni$_{80}$Fe$_{20}$) pseudo spin valve (PSV) structures in order to enhance the coercivity of one of the ferromagnetic layers. The increased coercivity induced by micropatterning changed the natural similarity of the magnetic layers and the structure exhibited a small spin valve response. These initial measurements were carried out with separate milling and electrical characterisation steps. However, it was decided that it would be ideal to design a technique to do in-situ magnetoresistance measurements during milling. This meant that the samples could be milled and characterised in the same step, leading to a much cleaner and more efficient process. In-situ magnetoresistance measurements were carried out during micropatterning of PSV devices, and the measurements showed the evolution in the electrical response as wire structures were gradually milled through the thickness. Contrary to what was expected, the structures showed a maximum spin valve response when fully milled through. The effect of further increasing the shape anisotropy by reducing the wire width, and changing the material properties in the PSV structure has also been investigated. MR measurements were taken as the temperature was increased from 291K to 493K, and the results show that the patterned PSV structures have a better thermal stability than exchange biased spin valves with an IrMn pinning layer. The experiment was extended to the nanoscale, and the results show that a significant increase in MR is not observed despite the fact that the magnetic configuration tends more towards single domain. This is thought to be due to an increase in the initial resistance of the structures. A small increase in MR was observed as the wire width was decreased from 730 to 470nm, although the spin valve response is heavily dependent on the gallium dosage density during patterning in the Focused Ion Beam (FIB). Micromagnetic simulations were carried out, which agree with the experimental results and showed the change in the magnetisation reversal from rotation to switching as the dimensions were reduced on the nanoscale

An Experiment on Impulse Excitation

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VICAR-DIGITAL image processing system

Computer program corrects various photometic, geometric and frequency response distortions in pictures. The program converts pictures to a number of elements, with each elements optical density quantized to a numerical value. The translated picture is recorded on magnetic tape in digital form for subsequent processing and enhancement by computer

Spin-transfer switching and low-field precession in exchange-biased spin valve nano-pillars

Using a three-dimensional focused-ion beam lithography process we have fabricated nanopillar devices which show spin transfer torque switching at zero external magnetic fields. Under a small in-plane external bias field, a field-dependent peak in the differential resistance versus current is observed similar to that reported in asymmetrical nanopillar devices. This is interpreted as evidence for the low-field excitation of spin waves which in our case is attributed to a spin-scattering asymmetry enhanced by the IrMn exchange bias layer coupled to a relatively thin CoFe fixed layer.Comment: 11 pages, 4 figures. To appear in APL, April 200

Transient but not genetic loss of miR-451 attenuates the development of pulmonary arterial hypertension

<b>Rationale:</b> MicroRNAs are small non-coding RNAs involved in the regulation of gene expression and have recently been implicated in the development of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Previous work established that miR-451 is up-regulated in rodent models of PAH.<p></p> <b>Objectives:</b> The role of miR-451 in the pulmonary circulation is unknown. We therefore sought to assess the involvement of miR-451 in the development of pulmonary arterial hypertension.<p></p> <b>Methods:</b> Silencing of miR-451 was performed in vivo using miR-451 knockout mice and an antimiR targeting mature miR-451 in rats. Coupled with exposure to hypoxia, indices of pulmonary arterial hypertension were assessed. The effect of modulating miR-451 on human pulmonary artery smooth muscle cell proliferation and migration was analysed.<p></p> <b>Measurements and Main Results:</b> We observed a reduction in systolic right ventricular pressure in hypoxic rats pre-treated with antimiR-451 compared to hypoxia alone (47.7 ± 1.36mmHg and 56.0 ± 2.03mmHg respectively, p<0.01). In miR-451 knockout mice following exposure to chronic hypoxia, no significant differences were observed compared to wild type hypoxic mice. In vitro analysis demonstrated that over-expression of miR-451 in human pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells promoted migration under serum-free conditions. No effect on cellular proliferation was observed.<p></p> <b>Conclusions:</b> Transient inhibition of miR-451 attenuated the development of pulmonary arterial hypertension in hypoxia exposed rats. Genetic deletion of miR-451 had no beneficial effect on indices of pulmonary arterial hypertension, potentially due to pathway redundancy compensating for the loss of miR-451.<p></p&gt

Developing a transformational digital strategy in an SME: the role of responsible management

Based on the case study of an SME company in the United Kingdom (which we will call SweetStar Cloud), this paper examines the attempts of the company to achieve significant strategic change. The company is attempting to move from being a tradition managed service provider of Information Services towards becoming a significant influencer in the market for digital services in the UK. As part of a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP), a local UK University has been closely involved in developing this new strategic direction and it is well poised to present and analyse the story. From the use of tried and tested strategic tools, including Porter’s Generic Strategies and segmentation and targeting, the company has also embraced digital-specific approaches for developing partnerships with clients, developing pilot projects and experimenting with its use of social media. At the heart of this research is an analysis of the move from push marketing towards models of attraction. This paper aims to explore how traditional strategic tools are still applicable in the digital era alongside new tactical approaches in the digital sector. This aim has led to an approach to business that is responsible, in terms of moving away from a traditional push-selling model to one of partnership with customers at a strategic level. Strategy in dynamic markets often highlights responsiveness as a key success factor. The ability to respond (a response-ability) requires more agile companies. As SweetStar Cloud has developed its strategy, it has focused in achieving this more effective ability to respond through a more collaborative approach. In this sense, agile response-ability converges with business responsibility, as new abilities in communication, cooperation and trust development become key

Friction Between Human Skin and Incontinence Pads in the Presence of Topical Barrier Protection Treatments

This research project investigated skin friction in relation to skin damage in the skin-pad interface, which is relevant to those living with incontinence, as well as professionals in the medical community who seek to treat the condition. This is a common and debilitating skin condition, and the tribological behaviours of skin treatments for this condition are not well understood. An initial experimental study focussed on developing protocols to understand the properties of skin in an untreated and treated state. The results gave insights into skin hydration, roughness, deformation, and friction. This study evidenced the suitability of the protocols for in vivo testing, and highlighted relationships between skin moisture and stratum corneum roughness, moisture and friction, and deformation and friction. With the addition of skin treatments, it was found that glycerol and Vaseline both considerably increased the friction coefficient, whereas Cavilon did not. Cavilon also produced a more consistent friction response across all participants. In addition, it identified that Cavilon, an advanced formulation developed specifically to protect skin of those with incontinence, performed differently to glycerol and Vaseline. To put the experimental studies into context an online questionnaire was designed to reach a community of people living with incontinence to learn about their experiences of incontinence-associated dermatitis (IAD). Knowledge was gained into various management techniques, including choice of treatments and absorbent products. User-defined data about the skin-pad interface was collected, such as incontinence severity, symptoms of IAD, and bodily locations affected. The dataset helped to establish factors that impacted the severity levels of IAD, which aided in the development of a new question based diagnostic tool to categorise people according to the severity of IAD that they experienced. If made available for public use in the future, it could play a role in the early stages of diagnosis. The protocol from the first experimental study was adapted to assess tribological interactions in the skin-pad interface, with IAD specific skin treatments and different wetness conditions. In a wet-pad state Cavilon reduced friction, and had much lower dynamic and static coefficients of friction than the other barrier treatments (Sorbaderm Barrier Cream and the barrier spray). Cavilon provided stable friction coefficients in reciprocating sliding, whereas the other treatments, and untreated skin, did not display this unique characteristic. The barrier spray gave rise to high static friction coefficients, and exhibited the most stick-slip. Cavilon, Sorbaderm, and the barrier spray were all found to reduce directional differences in the static coefficient of friction; indicative of reduced shear loading. A number of strategies were identified by which skin protection can be realised. Recommendations applicable for use by clinicians and those living with incontinence to form part of a preventative management regime for IAD, with the hope of improving the lives of those living with incontinence