Manoeuvring control of underactuated surface vessels using manifold regulation for Port-Hamiltonian systems

This paper considers the manoeuvring of underactuated surface vessels. The control objective is to steer the vessel to reach a manifold which encloses a waypoint. A transformation of configuration variables and a potential field are used in a Port-Hamiltonian framework to design an energy-based controller. With the proposed controller, the geometric task associated with the manoeuvring problem depends on the desired potential energy (closed-loop) and the dynamic task depends on the total energy and damping. Therefore, guidance and motion control are addressed jointly, leading to model-energy-based trajectory generation.

A nonlinear observer for estimating transverse stability parameters of marine surface vessels

This paper presents a nonlinear observer for estimating parameters associated with the restoring term of a roll motion model of a marine vessel in longitudinal waves. Changes in restoring, also referred to as transverse stability, can be the result of changes in the vessel's centre of gravity due to, for example, water on deck and also in changes in the buoyancy triggered by variations in the water-plane area produced by longitudinal waves -- propagating along the fore-aft direction along the hull. These variations in the restoring can change dramatically the dynamics of the roll motion leading to dangerous resonance. Therefore, it is of interest to estimate and detect such changes.

Tragedy and assimilation: Occupying the patterned surface

This chapter draws on biographical data about two notable pattern designers of wall surfaces in the interior. Both had personal histories of multiple careers and geographical locations and both their lives ended in mysterious circumstances. One of the pattern designers, Jim Thompson, disappeared in the Malaysian highlands in 1967 and was never found. The other, Florence Broadhurst, was brutally murdered in 1977; her case remains unsolved. This chapter theorizes that the patterned surface attracted Broadhurst and Thompson as a space to occupy and record their divergent pasts, and questions what it is to lose oneself in the surface of the interior, to find freedom (or slavery) in the abdication of control. This notion is further evidenced in creative works, including the Australian film Candy and the work by skin illustrator Emma Hack. What is it to work with the self as a two-dimensional representation in the outside world? Occupying the surface suggests a reflexive relationship with identity, that makes-over and re-shapes truths, lies and re-constructions. The chapter reminds us that the surface is never in stasis.

Similarity solutions for flow and heat transfer of non-Newtonian fluid over a stretching surface

Similarity solutions are carried out for flow of power law non-Newtonian fluid film on unsteady stretching surface subjected to constant heat flux. Free convection heat transfer induces thermal boundary layer within a semi-infinite layer of Boussinesq fluid. The nonlinear coupled partial differential equations (PDE) governing the flow and the boundary conditions are converted to a system of ordinary differential equations (ODE) using two-parameter groups. This technique reduces the number of independent variables by two, and finally the obtained ordinary differential equations are solved numerically for the temperature and velocity using the shooting method. The thermal and velocity boundary layers are studied by the means of Prandtl number and non-Newtonian power index plotted in curves.

Surface dosimetry for very small X-ray beams

Introduction The dose to skin surface is an important factor for many radiotherapy treatment techniques. It is known that TPS predicted surface doses can be significantly different from actual ICRP skin doses as defined at 70 lm. A number of methods have been implemented for the accurate determination of surface dose including use of specific dosimeters such as TLDs and radiochromic film as well as Monte Carlo calculations. Stereotactic radiosurgery involves delivering very high doses per treatment fraction using small X-ray fields. To date, there has been limited data on surface doses for these very small field sizes. The purpose of this work is to evaluate surface doses by both measurements and Monte Carlo calculations for very small field sizes. Methods All measurements were performed on a Novalis Tx linear accelerator which has a 6 MV SRS X-ray beam mode which uses a specially thin flattening filter. Beam collimation was achieved by circular cones with apertures that gave field sizes ranging from 4 to 30 mm at the isocentre. The relative surface doses were measured using Gafchromic EBT3 film which has the active layer at a depth similar to the ICRP skin dose depth. Monte Carlo calculations were performed using the BEAMnrc/EGSnrc Monte Carlo codes (V4 r225). The specifications of the linear accelerator, including the collimator, were provided by the manufacturer. Optimisation of the incident X-ray beam was achieved by an iterative adjustment of the energy, spatial distribution and radial spread of the incident electron beam striking the target. The energy cutoff parameters were PCUT = 0.01 MeV and ECUT = 0.700 - MeV. Directional bremsstrahlung splitting was switched on for all BEAMnrc calculations. Relative surface doses were determined in a layer defined in a water phantom of the same thickness and depth as compared to the active later in the film. Results Measured surface doses using the EBT3 film varied between 13 and 16 % for the different cones with an uncertainty of 3 %. Monte Carlo calculated surface doses were in agreement to better than 2 % to the measured doses for all the treatment cones. Discussion and conclusions This work has shown the consistency of surface dose measurements using EBT3 film with Monte Carlo predicted values within the uncertainty of the measurements. As such, EBT3 film is recommended for in vivo surface dose measurements.

Direct and quantitative detection of bacteriophage by "hearing" surface detachment using a quartz crystal microbalance

We show that it is possible to detect specifically adsorbed bacteriophage directly by breaking the interactions between proteins displayed on the phage coat and ligands immobilized on the surface of a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM). This is achieved through increasing the amplitude of oscillation of the QCM surface and sensitively detecting the acoustic emission produced when the bacteriophage detaches from the surface. There is no interference from nonspecifically adsorbed phage. The detection is quantitative over at least 5 orders of magnitude and is sensitive enough to detect as few as 20 phage. The method has potential as a sensitive and low-cost method for virus detection.

Probing the surface oxidation of chemically synthesised gold nanospheres and nanorods

In this study, the electrochemical behaviour of commercially available gold spheres and rods stabilised by carboxylic acid and cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) moieties, respectively, are investigated. The cyclic voltammetric behaviour in acidic electrolyte is distinctly different with the nanorods exhibiting unusual oxidative behaviour due to an electrodissolution process. The nanospheres exhibited responses typical of a highly defective surface which significantly impacted on electrocatalytic activity. A repetitive potential cycling cleaning procedure was also investigated which did not improve the activity of the nanorods and resulted in deactivating the gold spheres due to decreasing the level of surface defects.

A mass spectrometry study of XCO+, X = Si, Ge : Is SiCO+ a main group carbonyl? Comments on the bonding in ground state SiCO and the Si,C,O (+) potential energy surface

The cation\[Si,C,O](+) has been generated by 1) the electron ionisation (EI) of tetramethoxysilane and 2) chemical ionisation (CI) of a mixture of silane and carbon monoxide. Collisional activation (CA) experiments performed for mass-selected \[Si,C,O](+), generated by using both methods, indicate that the structure is not inserted OSiC+; however, a definitive structural assignment as Si+-CO, Si+-OC or some cyclic variant is impossible based on these results alone. Neutralisation-reionisation (+NR+) experiments for EI-generated \[Si,C,O](+) reveal a small peak corresponding to SiC+, but no detectable SiO+ signal, and thus establishes the existence of the Si+-CO isomer. CCSD(T)//B3LYP calculations employing a triple-zeta basis set have been used to explore the doublet and quartet potential-energy surfaces of the cation, as well as some important neutral states The results suggest that both Si+-CO and Si+ - OC isomers are feasible; however, the global minimum is (2)Pi SiCO+. Isomeric (2)Pi SiOC+ is 12.1 kcal mol(-1) less stable than (2)Pi SiCO+, and all quartet isomers are much higher in energy. The corresponding neutrals Si-CO and Si-OC are also feasible, but the lowest energy Si - OC isomer ((3)A") is bound by only 1.5 kcal mol(-1). We attribute most, if nor all, of the recovery signal in the +NR' experiment to SiCO+ survivor ions. The nature of the bonding in the lowest energy isomers of Si+ -(CO,OC) is interpreted with the aid of natural bond order analyses, and the ground stale bonding of SiCO+ is discussed in relation to classical analogues such as metal carbonyls and ketenes.

‘Click’ functionalised polymer resins : a new approach to the synthesis of surface attached bipyridinium and naphthalene diimide [2]rotaxanes

Herein we describe the design and synthesis of a series of solid-tethered [2]rotaxanes utilising crown ether-naphthalene diimide or crown ether- bipyridinium host guest interactions. TentaGel polystyrene resins were initially modified in a two-stage procedure to azide functionalised beads before the target supramolecular architectures were attached using a copper catalysed “click” procedure. The final assembly was examined using IR spectroscopy and gel-phase 1H High Resolution Magic Angle Spinning (HR MAS) NMR spectroscopy. The HR MAS technique enabled a direct comparison between the solid-tethered architectures and the synthesis and characterisation of analogous solution-based [2]rotaxanes to be made.

Epithelial-mesenchymal interconversions in normal ovarian surface epithelium and ovarian carcinomas : an exception to the norm

Cancer that arises from the ovarian surface epithelium (OSE) accounts for approximately 90% of human ovarian cancer, and is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women in developed countries. The pathophysiology of epithelial ovarian cancer is still unclear because of the poor understanding of the complex nature of its development and the unusual mechanism(s) of disease progression. Recent studies have reported epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in cultured OSE and ovarian cancer cell lines in response to various stimuli, but our understanding of the importance of these observations for normal ovarian physiology and cancer progression is not well established. This review highlights the current literature on EMT-associated events in normal OSE and ovarian cancer cell lines, and discusses its implication for normal ovarian function as well as acquisition of neoplastic phenotypes. The pathological changes in OSE in response to EMT during neoplastic transformation and the contribution of hormones, growth factors, and cytokines that initiate and drive EMT to sustain normal ovarian function, as well as cancer development and progression are also discussed. Finally, emphasis is placed on the clinical implications of EMT and potential therapeutic opportunities that may arise from these observations have been proposed.

A novel identification method for ultra trace detection of biomolecules using functionalised Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS)

This thesis developed a new method for measuring extremely low amounts of organic and biological molecules, using Surface enhanced Raman Spectroscopy. This method has many potential applications, e.g. medical diagnosis, public health, food provenance, antidoping, forensics and homeland security. The method development used caffeine as the small molecule example, and erythropoietin (EPO) as the large molecule. This method is much more sensitive and specific than currently used methods; rapid, simple and cost effective. The method can be used to detect target molecules in beverages and biological fluids without the usual preparation steps.

Ultra sensitive label free surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy method for the detection of biomolecules

We present a proof of concept for a novel nanosensor for the detection of ultra-trace amounts of bio-active molecules in complex matrices. The nanosensor is comprised of gold nanoparticles with an ultra-thin silica shell and antibody surface attachment, which allows for the immobilization and direct detection of bio-active molecules by surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) without requiring a Raman label. The ultra-thin passive layer (~1.3 nm thickness) prevents competing molecules from binding non-selectively to the gold surface without compromising the signal enhancement. The antibodies attached on the surface of the nanoparticles selectively bind to the target molecule with high affinity. The interaction between the nanosensor and the target analyte result in conformational rearrangements of the antibody binding sites, leading to significant changes in the surface enhanced Raman spectra of the nanoparticles when compared to the spectra of the un-reacted nanoparticles. Nanosensors of this design targeting the bio-active compounds erythropoietin and caffeine were able to detect ultra-trace amounts the analyte to the lower quantification limits of 3.5×10−13 M and 1×10−9 M, respectively.

Images inside a reflecting spherical surface with possible application in astronomy

This report studies an algebraic equation whose solution gives the image system of a source of light as seen by an observer inside a reflecting spherical surface. The equation is looked at numerically using GeoGebra. Under the hypothesis that our galaxy is enveloped by a reflecting interface this becomes a possible model for many mysterious extra galactic observations.

Plasma–surface interactions at nanoscales : a combinatorial theoretical, process diagnostics and surface microanalysis approach

This paper introduces an integral approach to the study of plasma-surface interactions during the catalytic growth of selected nanostructures (NSs). This approach involves basic understanding of the plasma-specific effects in NS nucleation and growth, theoretical modelling, numerical simulations, plasma diagnostics, and surface microanalysis. Using an example of plasma-assisted growth of surface-supported single-walled carbon nanotubes, we discuss how the combination of these techniques may help improve the outcomes of the growth process. A specific focus here is on the effects of nanoscale plasma-surface interactions on the NS growth and how the available techniques may be used, both in situ and ex situ to optimize the growth process and structural parameters of NSs.

Characteristics of epoxy resin/SiO2 nanocomposite insulation : effects of plasma surface treatment on the nanoparticles

The present study compares the effects of two different material processing techniques on modifying hydrophilic SiO2 nanoparticles. In one method, the nanoparticles undergo plasma treatment by using a custom-developed atmospheric-pressure non-equilibrium plasma reactor. With the other method, they undergo chemical treatment which grafts silane groups onto their surface and turns them into hydrophobic. The treated nanoparticles are then used to synthesize epoxy resin-based nanocomposites for electrical insulation applications. Their characteristics are investigated and compared with the pure epoxy resin and nanocomposite fabricated with unmodified nanofillers counterparts. The dispersion features of the nanoparticles in the epoxy resin matrix are examined through scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images. All samples show evidence that the agglomerations are smaller than 30 nm in their diameters. This indicates good dispersion uniformity. The Weibull plot of breakdown strength and the recorded partial discharge (PD) events of the epoxy resin/plasma-treated hydrophilic SiO2 nanocomposite (ER/PTI) suggest that the plasma-treated specimen yields higher breakdown strength and lower PD magnitude as compared to the untreated ones. In contrast, surprisingly, lower breakdown strength is found for the nanocomposite made by the chemically treated hydrophobic particles, whereas the PD magnitude and PD numbers remain at a similar level as the plasma-treated ones.