CONTEXTUALISING URBAN ENGINEERING EDUCATION FOR FUTURE CITIES

While rapidity in service activities have strengthened the role of urban areas as engines of economic growth, high population density and increased industrialization, has brought needless social and environmental complaints in cities. This phenomenon necessitates a change in societal attitude in f avor of the creation of responsible living conditions, which demands requisite skills and knowledge that would shape the cities. Thus, this paper explores the adequacy of current urban engineering education in terms of the knowledge, skills and competencie s required to plan and develop future cities. The paper examines how “wicked problems” that marginalize effective sustainable city planning can be addressed through astute understanding of social and environmental challenges, urban governance systems and s takeholder involvement. Based on current education system, initial findings suggest that competencies in urban planning will not necessarily enable students to address challenges related to the development of smart and sustainable cities. Rather, engineeri ng, science and social knowledge, which would engender the ability to predict future social dynamics, should enable graduates to become active drivers of sustainable and livable cities&nbsp

CONTEXTUALISING URBAN ENGINEERING EDUCATION FOR FUTURE CITIES

Published ArticleWhile rapidity in service activities have strengthened the role of urban areas as engines of economic growth, high population density and increased industrialization, has brought needless social and environmental complaints in cities. This phenomenon necessitates a change in societal attitude in favor of the creation of responsible living conditions, which demands requisite skills and knowledge that would shape the cities. Thus, this paper explores the adequacy of current urban engineering education in terms of the knowledge, skills and competencies required to plan and develop future cities. The paper examines how “wicked problems” that marginalize effective sustainable city planning can be addressed through astute understanding of social and environmental challenges, urban governance systems and stakeholder involvement. Based on current education system, initial findings suggest that competencies in urban planning will not necessarily enable students to address challenges related to the development of smart and sustainable cities. Rather, engineering, science and social knowledge, which would engender the ability to predict future social dynamics, should enable graduates to become active drivers of sustainable and livable cities

Magnetic Proximity Effect in YBa₂Cu₃O₇/La_2/3Ca_1/3MnO₃ and YBa₂Cu₃O₇/LaMnO₃₊ Superlattices

Using neutron reflectometry and resonant x-ray techniques we studied the magnetic proximity effect (MPE) in superlattices composed of superconducting YBa₂Cu₃O₇ and ferromagnetic-metallic La0.67Ca0.33MnO₃ or ferromagnetic-insulating LaMnO₃₊. We find that the MPE strongly depends on the electronic state of the manganite layers, being pronounced for the ferromagnetic-metallic La0.67Ca0.33MnO₃ and almost absent for ferromagnetic-insulating LaMnO₃₊. We also detail the change of the magnetic depth profile due to the MPE and provide evidence for its intrinsic nature

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Abstract Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

Synthesis and uses of macrobicyclic cryptands: from complexation of transition metal ions to molecular devices

Syntheses of a number of cryptands having heteroditopic as well as heterotritopic receptor sites have been achieved using alkali metal ions as templates. Some of the cryptands can be synthesized on a multi-gram scale without using any templating metal ions at low temperature (278 K). Each of these cryptands readily forms inclusion complexes with transition metal ions. These cryptands exhibit interesting properties and can further accomodate small anions inside the cavity. Further, upon suitable derivatization, some of the cryptands can behave as amphiphiles and form Langmuir-Blodgett films very readily. When derivatized with 9-methylanthracene, some of the cryptands show interesting fluorescence properties and can be of use as molecular photonic devices

Correlation of dielectric, electrical and magnetic properties near the magnetic phase transition temperature of cobalt zinc ferrite

Multiferroic composite structures, i.e., composites of magnetostrictive and piezoelectric materials can be envisioned towards the goal of achieving strong room-temperature ME coupling for real practical device applications. Magnetic materials with high magnetostriction, high Néel temperature (TN), high resistivity and large magnetization are required to observe high ME coupling in composite structures. In continuation to our investigations for suitable magnetic candidate for multiferroic composite structures, we have studied the crystal structure, dielectric, transport, and magnetic properties of Co0.65Zn0.35Fe2O4 (CZFO). Rietveld refinement of X-ray diffraction patterns confirms the phase purity with cubic crystal structure with (Fd3m) space group; however, we have found a surprisingly large magnto-dielectric anomaly at the Neel temperature, unexpected for a cubic structure. The presence of mixed valences of Fe+2/Fe+3 cations is probed by X-ray photon spectroscopy (XPS), which support the catonic ordering-mediated large dielectric response. Large dielectric permittivity dispersion with a broad anomaly is observed in the vicinity of the magnetic phase transition temperature (TN) of CZFO suggest the strong correlation between dielectric and magnetic properties. The ferromagnetic-paramagnetic phase transition of CZFO has been found ~640 K, which is well above room temperature. CZFO exhibits low loss tangent, high dielectric constant and large magnetization with soft magnetic behavior above room temperature. We describe the possible potential candidates for multiferroic composite structures as well as for multifunctional and spintronics device applications

Correlation of dielectric, electrical and magnetic properties near the magnetic phase transition temperature of cobalt zinc ferrite

Multiferroic composite structures, i.e., composites of magnetostrictive and piezoelectric materials can be envisioned towards the goal of achieving strong room-temperature ME coupling for real practical device applications. Magnetic materials with high magnetostriction, high Néel temperature (TN), high resistivity and large magnetization are required to observe high ME coupling in composite structures. In continuation to our investigations for suitable magnetic candidate for multiferroic composite structures, we have studied the crystal structure, dielectric, transport, and magnetic properties of Co0.65Zn0.35Fe2O4 (CZFO). Rietveld refinement of X-ray diffraction patterns confirms the phase purity with cubic crystal structure with (Fd3m) space group; however, we have found a surprisingly large magnto-dielectric anomaly at the Neel temperature, unexpected for a cubic structure. The presence of mixed valences of Fe+2/Fe+3 cations is probed by X-ray photon spectroscopy (XPS), which support the catonic ordering-mediated large dielectric response. Large dielectric permittivity dispersion with a broad anomaly is observed in the vicinity of the magnetic phase transition temperature (TN) of CZFO suggest the strong correlation between dielectric and magnetic properties. The ferromagnetic-paramagnetic phase transition of CZFO has been found ~640 K, which is well above room temperature. CZFO exhibits low loss tangent, high dielectric constant and large magnetization with soft magnetic behavior above room temperature. We describe the possible potential candidates for multiferroic composite structures as well as for multifunctional and spintronics device applications

Structural, microstructural and magneto-electric properties of single-phase BiFeO3 nanoceramics prepared by auto-combustion method

Polycrystalline nano BiFeO3 powders were synthesized by auto-combustion method using urea as fuel and metal nitrates (Fe(NO3)(3).9H(2)O, Bi(NO3)(3)-5H(2)O) as oxidizers. In order to optimize the single-phase synthesis condition of BiFeO3, different fuel to oxidizer ratios have been investigated. The preliminary structural investigation using X-ray diffraction shows the samples were of single phase and crystallize in rhombohedral structure (R3c). The ferroelectric and antiferromagnetic ordering temperatures of BiFeO3 were found to be 832 degrees C and 364 degrees C respectively, from differential thermal analysis. The temperature dependent dielectric study shows an anomaly around 215 degrees C which corresponds to magneto-electric coupling in the material. Field-emission scanning electron micrographs show effect of fuel to oxidizer ratio on grain size evolution. The ferroelectric hysteresis loops for all the samples were measured at a frequency of 100 Hz confirming the ferroelectric nature. An evidence of magneto-electric coupling was also observed at room temperature from magneto-capacitance measurements. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Consequence of Presence and Absence of π‑Clouds at Strategic Locations of Designed Binuclear Pd(II) Complexes on Packing: Self-Assembly of Self-Assembly by Intermolecular Locking and Packing

Self-assembled binuclear coordination cages of general formula [Pd₂(N–N)₂(<b>L</b>)₂]­(X)₄, <b>1a/b</b>–<b>4a/b</b> are prepared by the combination of <i>N</i>,<i>N</i>′-bis­(<i>m</i>-pyridyl)­urea, <b>L</b>, with a variety of <i>cis</i>-protected palladium­(II) components, Pd­(N–N)­(X)₂. The <i>cis</i>-protecting units “N–N” employed for the synthesis of <b>1</b>–<b>4</b> are ethylenediamine (en), tetramethylethylenediamine (tmeda), 2,2′-bipyridine (bpy), and 1,10-phenanthroline (phen), respectively. The term “X” stands for nitrate and perchlorate for <b>a</b> and <b>b</b>, respectively. The assemblies are characterized by NMR and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) techniques, and in some cases (i.e., <b>1a</b>,<b> 2b</b>,<b> 3b</b>,<b> 4a</b>, and <b>4b</b>) the structures are confirmed by single crystal X-ray diffraction. The conformations of bound <b>L</b> in the crystal structures of all the Pd­(II) complexes are found to be <i>syn-syn</i>. The influence of the presence and absence of π cloud at the <i>cis-</i>protecting units on the crystal packing has been studied in detail. In the packing of [Pd₂(phen)₂<b>L</b>₂]­(NO₃)₄, <b>4a</b>, one unit of [Pd₂(phen)₂<b>L</b>₂]⁴⁺ is associated with two other units by π–π stacking interactions thus giving a one-dimensional growth as envisioned on the basis of a design principle. In the case of [Pd₂(en)₂(<b>L)</b>₂]­(NO₃)₄, <b>1a</b>, and [Pd₂(tmeda)₂(<b>L</b>)₂]­(ClO₄)₄, <b>2b</b>, such packing is not observed due to the absence of π-cloud at the strategic locations, instead notable H-bonding interactions are seen. However, [Pd₂(bpy)₂(<b>L</b>)₂]­(ClO₄)₄, <b>3b</b>, displays a π–π interactions using only two units of [Pd₂(bpy)₂(<b>L</b>)₂]⁴⁺(ClO₄)⁻