Computational prediction of electrical and thermal properties of graphene and BaTiO3 reinforced epoxy nanocomposites

Graphene based materials e.g., graphene oxide (GO), reduced graphene oxide (RGO) and graphene nano platelets (GNP) as well as Barium titanate (BaTiO3) are emerging reinforcing agents which upon mixing with epoxy provides composite materials with superior mechanical, electrical and thermal properties as well as shielding against electromagnetic (EM) radiations. Inclusion of the aforementioned reinforcing agents has shown to improve the performance, however, the extent of improvement has remained uncertain. In this study, a computational modelling approach was adopted using COMSOL Multiphysics software in conjunction with Bayesian statistical analysis to investigate the effects of including various filler materials e.g. GO, RGO, GNP and BaTiO3 in influencing the direct current (DC) conductivity (σ), dielectric constant (ε) and thermal properties on the resulting epoxy polymer matrix composites. The simulation of epoxy composites were performed for different volume percentage of the filler materials by varying the geometry of the filler material. It was observed that the content of GO, RGO, GNPs and the thickness of graphene nanoplatelets can alter the DC conductivity, dielectric constant, and thermal properties of the epoxy matrix. The lower thickness of GNPs was found to offer the larger value of DC conductivity, thermal conductivity and thermal diffusivity than rest of the graphene nanocomposites, while, the RGO showed better dielectric constant value than neat epoxy, and GO, GNP nanocomposites. Similarly, BaTiO3 nanoparticles content and diameter were observed to alter the dielectric constant, DC conductivity and thermal properties of modified epoxy in several order magnitude than neat epoxy. In this way, the higher diameter particles of BaTiO3 showed better DC conductivity properties, dielectric constant value, thermal conductivity and thermal diffusivity. Moreover, this research provides guidance for further computational examination on the selection of GNP and BaTiO3 materials for the enhancement of the electrical and thermal properties of the epoxy matrix

Low electric field induction in BaTiO3-epoxy nanocomposites

Epoxy is widely used material, but epoxy has limitations in terms of brittleness in failure, and thus researchers explore toughening and strengthening options such as adding a second phase or using electromagnetic fields to tailor toughness and strength, on demand and nearly instantaneously. Such approach falls into the category of active toughening but has not been extensively investigated. In this research, Si-BaTiO3 nanoparticles were used to modify the electro-mechanical properties of a high-performance aerospace-grade epoxy so as to study its response to electric fields, specifically low field strengths. To promote uniform dispersion and distribution, the Si-BaTiO3 nanoparticles were functionalised with silane coupling agents and mixed in the epoxy Araldite LY1564 at different content loads (1, 5, 10 wt%), which was then associated with its curing agent Aradur 3487. Real-time measurements were conducted using Raman spectroscopy while applying electric fields to the nanocomposite specimens. The Raman data showed a consistent trend of increasing intensity and peak broadening under the increasing electric field strength and Si-BaTiO3 contents. This was attributed to the BaTiO3 particles’ dipolar displacement in the high-content nanocomposites (i.e., 5 wt% and 10 wt%). The study offers valuable insights on how electric field stimulation can actively enhance the mechanical properties in epoxy composites, specifically in relatively low fields and thin, high-aspect-ratio composite layers which would require in-situ mechanical testing equipped with electric field application, an ongoing investigation of the current research

Extent of Rock mass Damage Induced by Blasting in Tunneling

Drilling and blasting is preferred method of rock excavation world-wide due to low initial investment cheap explosive energy, easy acceptability amongst the blasting engineers, possibility to deal with different shapes and sizes of openinings. Although drill andblast method has witnessed significant technological advancements, it has inherent disadvantage of deteriorating surrounding rock mass due to developemt of network of fine caracks in it leading to safety and stability problem. The damage in the peripheral rock mass culminates in the form of overbrak and damanged zone. Overbreak increases project cost by more than 15%. The damaged zone extends beyond overbreak. Although significant efforts have been made to assess damage to the surrounding rock mass using different methods, easier solution based on easily available site parameters is still lacking. Authors have carried out field investigations at five different tunnel construction project sites located in Himalaya, India to formulate an empirical correlation for prediction of blast induced damamge for wide range of Q values (0.04 – 17.8). The proposed correlation is based on specific charge, perimeter charge factor, maximum charge per delay, advancement and confinement factor and rock mass quality rating Q. All the parameters used in empirical correlations are readily available to the site engineers and does not require laboratory testing. Data sets of 113 experimental blasts are collected from te five tunnel sites. The proposed empirical correlation has been validated using ultrasonic tests on rock core samples obtained from one of the experimental location

Micropropagation and conservation of selected endangered anticancer medicinal plants from the Western Ghats of India

Globally, cancer is a constant battle which severely affects the human population. The major limitations of the anticancer drugs are the deleterious side effects on the quality of life. Plants play a vital role in curing many diseases with minimal or no side effects. Phytocompounds derived from various medicinal plants serve as the best source of drugs to treat cancer. The global demand for phytomedicines is mostly reached by the medicinal herbs from the tropical nations of the world even though many plant species are threatened with extinction. India is one of the mega diverse countries of the world due to its ecological habitats, latitudinal variation, and diverse climatic range. Western Ghats of India is one of the most important depositories of endemic herbs. It is found along the stretch of south western part of India and constitutes rain forest with more than 4000 diverse medicinal plant species. In recent times, many of these therapeutically valued herbs have become endangered and are being included under the red-listed plant category in this region. Due to a sharp rise in the demand for plant-based products, this rich collection is diminishing at an alarming rate that eventually triggered dangerous to biodiversity. Thus, conservation of the endangered medicinal plants has become a matter of importance. The conservation by using only in situ approaches may not be sufficient enough to safeguard such a huge bio-resource of endangered medicinal plants. Hence, the use of biotechnological methods would be vital to complement the ex vitro protection programs and help to reestablish endangered plant species. In this backdrop, the key tools of biotechnology that could assist plant conservation were developed in terms of in vitro regeneration, seed banking, DNA storage, pollen storage, germplasm storage, gene bank (field gene banking), tissue bank, and cryopreservation. In this chapter, an attempt has been made to critically review major endangered medicinal plants that possess anticancer compounds and their conservation aspects by integrating various biotechnological tool

The global burden of cancer attributable to risk factors, 2010–19: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

BACKGROUND: Understanding the magnitude of cancer burden attributable to potentially modifiable risk factors is crucial for development of effective prevention and mitigation strategies. We analysed results from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2019 to inform cancer control planning efforts globally. METHODS: The GBD 2019 comparative risk assessment framework was used to estimate cancer burden attributable to behavioural, environmental and occupational, and metabolic risk factors. A total of 82 risk–outcome pairs were included on the basis of the World Cancer Research Fund criteria. Estimated cancer deaths and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) in 2019 and change in these measures between 2010 and 2019 are presented. FINDINGS: Globally, in 2019, the risk factors included in this analysis accounted for 4·45 million (95% uncertainty interval 4·01–4·94) deaths and 105 million (95·0–116) DALYs for both sexes combined, representing 44·4% (41·3–48·4) of all cancer deaths and 42·0% (39·1–45·6) of all DALYs. There were 2·88 million (2·60–3·18) risk-attributable cancer deaths in males (50·6% [47·8–54·1] of all male cancer deaths) and 1·58 million (1·36–1·84) risk-attributable cancer deaths in females (36·3% [32·5–41·3] of all female cancer deaths). The leading risk factors at the most detailed level globally for risk-attributable cancer deaths and DALYs in 2019 for both sexes combined were smoking, followed by alcohol use and high BMI. Risk-attributable cancer burden varied by world region and Socio-demographic Index (SDI), with smoking, unsafe sex, and alcohol use being the three leading risk factors for risk-attributable cancer DALYs in low SDI locations in 2019, whereas DALYs in high SDI locations mirrored the top three global risk factor rankings. From 2010 to 2019, global risk-attributable cancer deaths increased by 20·4% (12·6–28·4) and DALYs by 16·8% (8·8–25·0), with the greatest percentage increase in metabolic risks (34·7% [27·9–42·8] and 33·3% [25·8–42·0]). INTERPRETATION: The leading risk factors contributing to global cancer burden in 2019 were behavioural, whereas metabolic risk factors saw the largest increases between 2010 and 2019. Reducing exposure to these modifiable risk factors would decrease cancer mortality and DALY rates worldwide, and policies should be tailored appropriately to local cancer risk factor burden

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

Tunnelling through weak and fragile rocks of Himalayas

A considerable amount of tunnelling has been going on in India for various projects such as hydroelectric power, irrigation, roads and railways. Most of these projects are located in Himalayas, far away from the urban areas. Tunnelling through weak and jointed rock masses such as the one in the Himalayas is a challenging task for the planners, designers, engineers and geologists because of high overburden, thickly vegetated surface, weak, poor and fragile rocks and highly varying geology with the presence of numerous small and big shear zones, faults, etc. Due to these reasons, various tunnelling problems have been faced in the past and are still being encountered. Failures and the problems may be regarded as challenges and opportunities for generating new knowledge base and thereby increasing self-reliance in tunnelling. The experiences of Himalayan tunnelling through weak and fragile rocks covering varying and mixed geology, understanding on tunnelling in squeezing ground conditions and applicability of TBM in Himalayas are presented. It has also been highlighted that the probe holes planning, drilling and monitoring shall be followed seriously to reduce the geological surprises