Grand Challenges in global eye health: a global prioritisation process using Delphi method

Background We undertook a Grand Challenges in Global Eye Health prioritisation exercise to identify the key issues that must be addressed to improve eye health in the context of an ageing population, to eliminate persistent inequities in health-care access, and to mitigate widespread resource limitations. Methods Drawing on methods used in previous Grand Challenges studies, we used a multi-step recruitment strategy to assemble a diverse panel of individuals from a range of disciplines relevant to global eye health from all regions globally to participate in a three-round, online, Delphi-like, prioritisation process to nominate and rank challenges in global eye health. Through this process, we developed both global and regional priority lists. Findings Between Sept 1 and Dec 12, 2019, 470 individuals complete round 1 of the process, of whom 336 completed all three rounds (round 2 between Feb 26 and March 18, 2020, and round 3 between April 2 and April 25, 2020) 156 (46%) of 336 were women, 180 (54%) were men. The proportion of participants who worked in each region ranged from 104 (31%) in sub-Saharan Africa to 21 (6%) in central Europe, eastern Europe, and in central Asia. Of 85 unique challenges identified after round 1, 16 challenges were prioritised at the global level; six focused on detection and treatment of conditions (cataract, refractive error, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, services for children and screening for early detection), two focused on addressing shortages in human resource capacity, five on other health service and policy factors (including strengthening policies, integration, health information systems, and budget allocation), and three on improving access to care and promoting equity. Interpretation This list of Grand Challenges serves as a starting point for immediate action by funders to guide investment in research and innovation in eye health. It challenges researchers, clinicians, and policy makers to build collaborations to address specific challenge

Performance and Detonation Characteristics of Polyurethane Matrix Bonded Attractive Nitramines

Several cast-cured plastic bonded explosives (PBXs) based on cyclic nitramines bonded by a polyurethane matrix have been prepared and studied. The nitramines were ε-CL20 (ε-2,4,6,8,10,12-hexanitro-2,4,6,8,10,12-hexaazaisowurtzitane, ε-HNIW), BCHMX (bicyclo-HMX, cis-1,3,4,6-tetranitro-octahydroimidazo-[4,5-d]imidazole), RDX (1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazacyclohexane) and HMX (1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetraazacyclooctane). The detonation velocities were measured experimentally. The brisance of the prepared compositions was determined by the Kast method. The penetration performance of shaped charges filled with the prepared compositions was measured experimentally. The detonation parameters of the studied compositions and the individual explosives were calculated using the EXPLO5 thermodynamic code. It was concluded that CL20-HTPB has the highest detonation characteristics and performance of all of the prepared PBXs. BCHMX-HTPB is an interesting PBX with performance and detonation characteristics higher than those of RDX-HTPB. A linear relationship between the detonation pressures of the prepared PBXs and their performances in terms of the explosive brisance was observed; while the penetration depths formed by the shaped charge jets depended on the Gurney velocity of the studied PBXs samples

Path to ε-HNIW with Reduced Impact Sensitivity

New purification method was applied to obtain epsilon HNIW (ε-2,4,6,8,10,12-hexanitro-2,4,6,8,10,12-hexaazaisowurtzitane, ε-HNIW) which has low impact sensitivity. The method is based on removing the impurities from a solution of alpha HNIW (ε-HNIW) by a chemical reaction to obtain pure epsilon form. For comparison, selected different published methods for recrystallization of HNIW to obtain the epsilon form were studied. All the selected methods are based on solvent-antisolvent technique. The optimum parameters, such as type of solvent and anti-solvent, volume ratio of solvent to anti-solvent, rate of addition, speed of stirring, etc., were applied to enhance the crystal size and shape of ε-HNIW. Checking the polymorphs of the obtained HNIW was done by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The thermal stability of the prepared samples was studied by using differential thermal analysis technique (DTA). Qualitative analysis of the crystal size and shape was done using scanning electron microscope (SEM) devise. Quantitative measurement of the crystals sizes for the studied samples was determined by Laser scattering particle size distribution analyzer. Impact sensitivity was measured by falling hammer test. The results indicate that all the applied methods of recrystallization give ε-HNIW. The impact sensitivity of HNIW decreases by obtaining small particles with regular shape. All the used published methods produce ε-HNIW with higher impact sensitivity than other nitramines. While the obtained crystals from the new method has regular smooth surface, with small particle size and its impact sensitivity is lower than RDX and HMX

High Penetration Performance of Powder Metallurgy Copper-Tungsten Shaped Charge Liners

Copper tungsten liner manufactured using uniaxial pressing technique has been characterized numerically and experimentally in comparison with a baseline shaped charge copper liner produced by deep drawing technique. The jet properties resulted from these two shaped charges were different according to their liner types and relevant densities which affect the resultant penetration depths into rolled homogeneous armour (RHA) targets. Different copper-tungsten powder liners have been studied and analysed using Autodyn hydrocode, from which an optimum powder design was chosen based on its maximum jet kinetic energy that can be coherent. The compacted liner elastic properties have been measured using SONELASTIC apparatus, whereas its real density is determined using helium gas pycnometer. Baseline copper liner obtained by deep drawing technique of uniform density exhibited lower penetration depth in comparison with the copper-tungsten liner (higher density powder). Besides, the penetration crater resulted from the powder liner showed clean hole without clogging because there was no massive slug as in the case of the copper liners. Experimental field tests of the two liners against (RHA) targets exhibited different penetrations depths, which have been accounted in this research

The Effect of Different Copper Salts on the Mechanical and Ballistic Characteristics of Double Base Rocket Propellants

Abstract: This paper discusses the enhancement in the ballistic performance of double base rocket propellants (DBRPs) by the addition of different copper salts vs lead salts as burning rate modifiers through stable combustion and the formation of a plateau region in the low pressure region. Compositions based on DBRPs containing different percentages of lead stearate and different types of copper salts were prepared and studied. For comparison, a conventional DBRP was studied. The ignition temperature and heat of combustion were determined experimentally, and the mechanical properties were measured and evaluated. The performance in terms of ballistic characteristics (burning rate, operating pressure) were measured at different throat diameters (8, 8.5, 9, 9.5 mm) and at different temperatures (−20 and 50 °C). Specific impulses were calculated using the ICT thermodynamic code. The experimental data from the proportional study indicate that the compositions containing the studied burning rate modifiers are superior to the original DBRP in respect of ballistic performance and mechanical properties

Effect of polar plasticizers on the characteristics of selected cyclic nitramines

Dioctyl sebacate (DOS) is a plasticizer used with oily material for the softening of polyisobutylene binder (PIB) to form a polymeric matrix. This matrix was used for the preparation of various plastic explosives. The following energetic cyclic nitramines were used as explosive fillers: BCHMX (cis-1,3,4,6- tetranitrooctahydroimidazo [4,5 d]imidazole), ε-HNIW (ε-2,4,6,8,10,12- hexanitro-2,4,6,8,10,12-hexaazaisowurtzitane), RDX (1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5- triazacyclohexane), and HMX (1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazacyclooctane). For comparison, Fluorel binder was used for the preparation of several plastic bonded explosives (PBXs) based on the same selected explosives. Impact and friction sensitivities of the prepared samples and the pure explosive fillers were measured. The thermal stability was studied using differential thermal analysis (DTA). High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to detect the presence of BCHMX dissolved in dioctyl sebacate (DOS). The heat of combustion of the prepared samples and of the pure explosive fillers was measured using a bomb calorimetry. The results show that PIB softened by plasticizer (DOS) has a greater positive effect on decreasing the impact sensitivity of the studied pure explosives than Fluorel binder. On the other hand, the plasticizer acts as a solvent for the energetic materials and decreases the decomposition temperature of these plastic explosives

Recent Advances in the Study of the Initiation of Energetic Materials Using the Characteristics of Their Thermal Decomposition Part II. Using Simple Differential Thermal Analysis

Simple Differential Thermal Analysis (DTA), with evaluation of its output by the Kissinger method, was used in the case of emulsion explosives and, as an advanced application, for several plastic bonded explosives (PBXs). In both of these kinds of explosive the square of their detonation velocities, D2, is used as their performance characteristic. A relationship between the slope of the Kissinger equation, EaT-1, and the D2 values makes it possible to formulate a possible mechanism for the initiation of emulsion explosives. Regarding PBXs, it would seem possible to postulate a change in the detonation chemistry of plastic bonded nitramines, depending on the pressure and temperature in the zone of the detonation wave, particularly in the case of CL-20 fillers. Binders with aromatic building units in their macromolecular structure seem to be less-favoured in terms of their thermal reactivity and performance than the final PBXs. These findings document the advantages of the above-mentioned application of simple DTA