20 research outputs found
Dynamical Processing of Geophysical Signatures based on SPOT-5 Remote Sensing Imagery
An intelligent post-processing computational paradigm based on the use of dynamical filtering techniques modified to enhance the quality of reconstruction of geophysical signatures based on Spot-5 imagery is proposed. As a matter of particular study, a robust algorithm is reported for the analysis of the dynamic behavior of geophysical indexes extracted from the real-world remotely sensed scenes. The simulation results verify the efficiency of the approach as required for decision support in resources management
Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries
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
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
Dynamical processing of geophysical signatures based on spot-5 remote sensing imagery
Experimental work on the synthesis of the CoSb2O6 oxide and its CO2 sensing properties is presented here. The oxide was synthesized by a microwave-assisted colloidal method in presence of ethylenediamine after calcination at 600 °C. This CoSb2O6 oxide crystallized in a tetragonal structure with cell parameters ?= 4.6495 and c= 9.2763 Å, and space group P42/mnm. To prove its physical, chemical and sensing properties, the oxide was subjected to a series of tests: Raman spectroscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and impedance (Z) measurements. Microstructures, like columns, bars and hollow hemispheres, were observed. For the CO2 sensing test, a thick film of CoSb2O6 was used, measuring the impedance variations on the presence of air/CO2 flows (0.100 sccm/0.100 sccm) using AC (alternating current) signals in the frequency-range 0.1-100 kHz and low relative temperatures (250 and 300 °C). The CO2 sensing results were quite good. " 2014 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.",,,,,,"10.3390/s140915802",,,"http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12104/40814","http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-84906871340&partnerID=40&md5=0ef48f570dd2426756a43bbd0f6ef83
Dynamic response of CoSb2O6 trirutile-type oxides in a CO2 atmosphere at low-temperatures
Experimental work on the synthesis of the CoSb2O6 oxide and its CO2 sensing properties is presented here. The oxide was synthesized by a microwave-assisted colloidal method in presence of ethylenediamine after calcination at 600 °C. This CoSb2O6 oxide crystallized in a tetragonal structure with cell parameters α= 4.6495 and c= 9.2763 Å, and space group P42/mnm. To prove its physical, chemical and sensing properties, the oxide was subjected to a series of tests: Raman spectroscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and impedance (Z) measurements. Microstructures, like columns, bars and hollow hemispheres, were observed. For the CO2 sensing test, a thick film of CoSb2O6 was used, measuring the impedance variations on the presence of air/CO2 flows (0.100 sccm/0.100 sccm) using AC (alternating current) signals in the frequency-range 0.1-100 kHz and low relative temperatures (250 and 300 °C). The CO2 sensing results were quite good. © 2014 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland
CO 2 and CO gas sensing properties of nanostructured BiOCl ribbons doped with gold nanoparticles
Gas sensor materials have played a relevant role in the detection and monitoring of pollutant and toxic gases. Carbon dioxide gas sensors are of particular relevance, because the global warming is mainly caused by emission of CO2 to the atmosphere. In that sense, the research of inorganic materials that can detect small amounts of this gas, have attracted the interest of many laboratories worldwide. On the other hand, it is well known that cobalt oxides have interesting catalytical and gas sensing properties. Therefore, in this work, the synthesis and CO2 gas sensing properties of nanostructured CoSb2O6 were explored. "The Electrochemical Society.",,,,,,"10.1149/1.3327204",,,"http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12104/40142","http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-79952753172&partnerID=40&md5=7901fb214274ff7496f356290ceed39f",,,,,,"31",,"ECS Transactions",,"4
CO2 detection in nanostructured CoSb2O6 prepared by a non-aqueous colloidal method
Gas sensor materials have played a relevant role in the detection and monitoring of pollutant and toxic gases. Carbon dioxide gas sensors are of particular relevance, because the global warming is mainly caused by emission of CO2 to the atmosphere. In that sense, the research of inorganic materials that can detect small amounts of this gas, have attracted the interest of many laboratories worldwide. On the other hand, it is well known that cobalt oxides have interesting catalytical and gas sensing properties. Therefore, in this work, the synthesis and CO2 gas sensing properties of nanostructured CoSb2O6 were explored. ©The Electrochemical Society
Synthesis and gas sensing properties of nanostructured CoSb2O6 microspheres
Nanostructured CoSb2O6 microspheres were prepared by a colloidal method using cobalt nitrate, antimony trichloride and n-dodecylamine in ethyl alcohol. Microwave radiation, with a power of ∼160 W, was applied for solvent evaporation. The full evaporation was reached after a non-continuous radiation for 200 s. The resulting material was then heated at 200 °C in static air. At this temperature, a large number of microspheres with smooth surface were formed. The calcination at 700 °C produced single-phase nanostructured CoSb2O6 hollow microspheres. The surface nanoparticles had an average particle size of 38 nm. The gas sensing properties of CoSb2O6 thick films were investigated at 400 °C. The direct current measurements showed resistance variations (ΔR) of ∼130 Ω in CO2 and ∼75 Ω in O2. In a previous work, these values were 450 and 180 Ω, respectively, corresponding to CoSb2O6 synthesized by a solution-polymerization method. Even though a decrease in ΔR was recorded in the present study, more stable measurements in carbon dioxide were obtained, with lower resistance values. The polarization curves showed a large non-ohmic behavior, with a significant ability to detect variations in the concentration of CO2 and O2. Alternating current was also used to characterize the gas sensing properties of CoSb2O6. The measurements in AC revealed better repeatability in gas detection and also the capability to detect variations in the gas concentration. © 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved
Measuring the profile of a simulated machined aspherical surface using an evolutive algorithm
In this work we show an optimization method based on an evolutive algorithm to obtain the profile of a simulated machined aspherical surface starting from a set of noisy discrete Cartesian coordinates (x,y,z), where the x and y experimental coordinates are used to simulate the sagitta z of the analyzed surface. By minimizing an ob jective function, the proposed method fits the sagitta function to the set of noisy discrete coordinates, thus the geometrical parameters of the simulated surface under test such as paraxial radius of curvature, the conic constant and the aspheric deformation constants can be obtained. Numerical results show that our method can be successfully applied to retrieve the simulated machined surface profile
Measuring the profile of a simulated machined aspherical surface using a nonconventional optimization algorithm
We show an optimization method based on an evolutive algorithm to obtain the profile of a simulated machined aspherical surface starting from a set of noisy discrete Cartesian coordinates (x,y,z), where the experimental coordinates x and y are used to simulate the sagitta z of the analyzed surface. By minimizing an objective function, the proposed method fits the sagitta function to the set of noisy discrete coordinates; thus the geometrical parameters of the simulated surface under test, such as the paraxial radius of curvature, the conic constant, and the aspheric deformation constants, can be obtained. Numerical results show that our method can be successfully applied to retrieve the simulated machined surface profile. � 2008 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers