Synthesis and Study of Electrical Properties of Di Ethylene Glycol Embedded ZrO2 Films as a Gas Sensor

In this paper, the effects of Di ethylene glycol (DEG) embedded Zirconium dioxide (ZrO2) microstructure and Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) Sensing characteristics of ZrO2 thin films prepared by spray pyrolysis method were investigated. The films are prepared at X wt. % concentrations (X= 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5) of Di ethylene Glycol. Microstructure of ZrO2 thin film was drastically changed by the addition of DEG, indicating that the addition of DEG was effective to prevent the agglomeration of ZrO2 particles. The high material and phase purities are found from the characterization studies in all as-prepared films. The better sensitivity factor (SF) values SF ~102 (at T = 450C) and SF = 100 (at T = 37oC) are obtained at 1 wt. % and 5 wt. % of Di ethylene Glycol respectively. It is observed that the gas sensing characteristics of these films are strongly influenced by the optimum concentration of DEG due to the high surface area of nano-sized ZrO2 particles

Performance Assessment of Petrol Engines with Hydrogen as an Alternative Fuel

Received: 7 November 2023. Revised: 17 January 2024. Accepted: 21 May 2024. Available online: 30 June 2024.This research focused on reducing emissions from petrol engines to mitigate greenhouse gases. Experiments aimed to decrease pollutants from petrol engines and enhance efficiency at full load using hydrogen as a secondary fuel, injecting it for 2 milliseconds and 2.5 milliseconds. The study comprised two phases: one using petrol alone at all loads, and the other combining petrol with hydrogen injections at 216 gm/hour and 270 gm/hour. Performance, pollutants, brake, and mechanical efficiencies were compared between phases. Efficiency gradually improved with load for the 2ms injection. Efficiency improved in all timing cases with hydrogen compared to running on petrol alone. The highest efficiencies occurred with 2.5ms hydrogen injection, reducing pollutants at full load, making it the optimal interval. Injecting hydrogen in petrol engines improves efficiency by reducing emissions. Injecting hydrogen at 270 gm/hour at full load increased brake and indicated thermal efficiency by 9%, with no change in mechanical efficiency compared to pure petrol, which was slightly higher. Emissions of NO, CO2, and HC were reduced by 16.5%, 15%, and 17.2% respectively. Oxygen percentage by volume increased by 10.43%, supporting complete combustion

Evaluation of a large-scale donation of Lifebox pulse oximeters to non-physician anaesthetists in Uganda

Summary Pulse oximetry is widely accepted as essential monitoring for safe anaesthesia, yet is frequently unavailable in resource-limited settings. The Lifebox pulse oximeter, and associated management training programme, was delivered to 79 non-physician anaesthetists attending the 2011 Uganda Society of Anaesthesia Annual Conference. Using a standardised assessment, recipients were tested for their knowledge of oximetry use and hypoxia management before, immediately following and 3–5 months after the training. Before the course, the median (IQR [range]) test score for the anaesthetists was 36 (34–39 [26–44]) out of a maximum of 50 points. Immediately following the course, the test score increased to 41 (38–43 [25–47]); p < 0.0001 and at the follow-up visit at 3–5 months it was 41 (39–44 [33–49]); p = 0.001 compared with immediate post-training test scores, and 75/79 (95%) oximeters were in routine clinical use. This method of introduction resulted in a high rate of uptake of oximeters into clinical practice and a demonstrable retention of knowledge in a resource-limited setting

Trans-visceral migration of retained surgical gauze as a cause of intestinal obstruction: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>A retained surgical sponge in the abdomen is uncommon although it is likely that this finding is underreported in the medical literature. The intravisceral migration of retained surgical gauze is even rarer, as demonstrated by the very few cases reported.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>Three years after undergoing anterior resection of the rectum, a 75-year-old man presented with symptoms of small bowel obstruction. Plain abdominal radiography and CT showed a radio-opaque marker; a foreign body was suspected, probably a piece of retained surgical gauze. An ileotomy of about 5 cm. was performed to confirm this diagnosis and remove the gauze.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Although rare, retained gauze in the abdomen is a complication of surgery. The authors consider that this event may be more frequent than it appears from reports in the literature, probably because of its medico-legal implications. If all such cases were reported, it would be possible to estimate their exact number, classify the occurrence as a possible surgical complication and thus modify its medico-forensic consequences.</p

Linear-Structure Single-Atom Gold(I) Catalyst for Dehydrogenative Coupling of Organosilanes with Alcohols

A strategyfor the synthesisof a gold-basedsingle-atom catalyst(SAC) via a one-steproom temperaturereductionofAu(III)salt and stabilizationof Au(I) ions on nitrile-functionalizedgraphene(cyanographene;G-CN)is described.The graphene-supportedG(CN)-Aucatalystexhibitsa unique linear structureofthe Au(I) active sites promotinga multistepmode of action indehydrogenativecouplingof organosilaneswith alcoholsundermild reactionconditionsas provenby advancedXPS, XAFS,XANES,and EPR techniquesalong with DFT calculations.Thelinear structurebeing perfectlyaccessibletowardthe reactantmoleculesand the cyanographene-inducedcharge transferresultingin the exclusiveAu(I) valencestate contributeto the superiorefficiencyof the emergingtwo-dimensionalSAC. The developedG(CN)-AuSAC, despiteits low metal loading(ca. 0.6 wt %),appearto be the most efficientcatalystfor Si−H bond activationwith a turnoverfrequencyof up to 139,494h−1and highselectivities,significantlyovercomingall reportedhomogeneousgold catalysts.Moreover,it can be easily preparedin a multigrambatch scale, is recyclable,and works well toward more than 40 organosilanes.This work opens the door for applicationsof SACs witha linear structureof the active site for advancedcatalyticapplications

Human factors and missed solutions to Enigma design weaknesses

The German World War II Enigma suffered from design weaknesses that facilitated its large-scale decryption by the British throughout the war. The author shows that the main technical weaknesses (self-coding and reciprocal coding) could have been avoided using simple contemporary technology, and therefore the true cause of the weaknesses is not technological but must be sought elsewhere. Specifically, human factors issues resulted in the persistent failure to seek out more effective designs. Similar limitations seem to beset the literature on the period, which misunderstands the Enigma weaknesses and therefore inhibits broader thinking about design or realising the critical role of human factors engineering in cryptography

Effect of racket-shuttlecock impact location on shot outcome for badminton smashes by elite players

A logarithmic curve fitting methodology for the calculation of badminton racket-shuttlecock impact locations from three-dimensional motion capture data was presented and validated. Median absolute differences between calculated and measured impact locations were 3.6 [IQR: 4.4] and 3.5 [IQR: 3.5] mm medio-laterally and longitudinally on the racket face, respectively. Three-dimensional kinematic data of racket and shuttlecock were recorded for 2386 smashes performed by 65 international badminton players, with racket-shuttlecock impact location assessed against instantaneous post-impact shuttlecock speed and direction. Medio-lateral and longitudinal impact locations explained 26.2% (quadratic regression; 95% credible interval: 23.1%, 29.2%; BF10 = 1.3 × 10131, extreme; p < 0.001) of the variation in participant-specific shuttlecock speed. A meaningful (BF10 = ∞, extreme; p < 0.001) linear relationship was observed between medio-lateral impact location and shuttlecock horizontal direction relative to a line normal to the racket face at impact. Impact locations within one standard deviation of the pooled mean impact location predict reductions in post-impact shuttlecock speeds of up to 5.3% of the player’s maximal speed and deviations in horizontal direction of up to 2.9° relative to a line normal to the racket face. These results highlight the margin for error available to elite badminton players during the smash

Assessing the level of healthcare information technology adoption in the United States: a snapshot

BACKGROUND: Comprehensive knowledge about the level of healthcare information technology (HIT) adoption in the United States remains limited. We therefore performed a baseline assessment to address this knowledge gap. METHODS: We segmented HIT into eight major stakeholder groups and identified major functionalities that should ideally exist for each, focusing on applications most likely to improve patient safety, quality of care and organizational efficiency. We then conducted a multi-site qualitative study in Boston and Denver by interviewing key informants from each stakeholder group. Interview transcripts were analyzed to assess the level of adoption and to document the major barriers to further adoption. Findings for Boston and Denver were then presented to an expert panel, which was then asked to estimate the national level of adoption using the modified Delphi approach. We measured adoption level in Boston and Denver was graded on Rogers' technology adoption curve by co-investigators. National estimates from our expert panel were expressed as percentages. RESULTS: Adoption of functionalities with financial benefits far exceeds adoption of those with safety and quality benefits. Despite growing interest to adopt HIT to improve safety and quality, adoption remains limited, especially in the area of ambulatory electronic health records and physician-patient communication. Organizations, particularly physicians' practices, face enormous financial challenges in adopting HIT, and concerns remain about its impact on productivity. CONCLUSION: Adoption of HIT is limited and will likely remain slow unless significant financial resources are made available. Policy changes, such as financial incentivesto clinicians to use HIT or pay-for-performance reimbursement, may help health care providers defray upfront investment costs and initial productivity loss