Towards Graphene Based Flexible Force Sensor

Monolayer graphene transferred over flexible polyvinyl chloride (PVC) substrate combined with closely packed layer of nano-spheres (NSs) is fabricated for force sensing application. The force was applied from vertical direction through NSs which acts as lateral strain enhancers. The stack persuades lateral in-plane strain in the monolayer graphene for the applied vertical pressure through NSs. The electrical measurements demonstrate that the graphene layer is able to respond for soft touch range commonly perceived by human beings. The sensing stack was fabricated using simple approaches such as hot lamination graphene transfer process and drop casting of NSs. The device structure is flexible to conformably cover the nonplanar surface for applications such as large area pressure sensing and robotic e-skin

Prediction of grinding machinability when grind P20 tool steel using water based ZnO nano-coolant

Grinding is often an important finishing process for many engineering components and for some components is even a major production process. The surface roughness, Ra is also an important factor affecting many manufacturing departments. In this study, a model have been developed to find the effect of grinding condition which is depth of cut, type of wheel and type of grinding coolant on the surface roughness on AISI P20 tool steel and wheel wear. Besides that, the objective of this study is to determine the effect of Zinc Oxide (ZnO) nano-coolant on the grinding surface quality and wheel wear for various axial depth. Precision surface grinding machine is used to grind the AISI P20 tool steel. The work table speed would be constant throughout the experiment which is 200 rpm. The experiment conducted with grinding depth in the range of 5 to 21µm. Besides, Aluminum Oxide wheel and Silicon Carbide wheel are used to grind the work piece in this experimental study. Next, the experiment will conduct using ZnO nano-coolant. Finally, the artificial intelligence model has been developed using ANN. From the result, it shows that the lower surface roughness and wheel wear obtain at the lowest cutting depth which is 5 µm. Besides that, grind using ZnO nano-coolant gives better surface roughness and minimum wheel wears compare to grind using water based coolant. From the prediction of ANN, it shows that the surface roughness became constant after cutting depth 21 µm. In conclusion, grind using ZnO nano-coolant with cutting depth 5 µm obtain a better surface roughness and lowest wheel wear. As a recommendation, various machining can be conducted using ZnO nano-coolant to emphasize better results

Concerns of caregivers of paediatric patients regarding anaesthesia at an academic hospital in Johannesburg

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Medicine, in the branch of Anaesthesiology Johannesburg, 2016Studies show that anxious children experience negative post-operative outcomes, and that anxiety in parents, leads to anxiety in children. Addressing issues related to caregiver anxiety in the peri-operative period may be beneficial in reducing anxiety in paediatric surgical patients, thereby potentially avoiding a host of undesirable outcomes. The concerns of caregivers’ of paediatric patients presenting for surgical procedures at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital (CHBAH) were not known. Gaining insight into caregiver’s concerns, and what they fear about anaesthesia, allows us to address these concerns in a constructive manner, and thus improve the quality of the experience. This study explored the concerns of caregivers of paediatric patients presenting for surgery, in an attempt to alleviate these concerns, and thus reduce anxiety. This qualitative, explorative research project was conducted amongst caregivers of paediatric patients presenting for surgery at CHBAH. Semi-structured, in-depth interviews were conducted until data saturation occurred (n = 20). The interviews were audio – recorded, and then transcribed verbatim, after which thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. Major concerns identified included a fear of death, pain and surgical and anaesthetic complications. The fear of death was influenced by factors including personal and community experiences, media influences and the perceived risk of surgery. The findings of this study show that a singular event can be experienced, and thus interpreted, differently by different individuals. This ‘Weltanshauung’ (world view) needs to be borne in mind by anaesthetists when interacting with caregivers prior to surgery, in order to deliver holistic care of the highest quality.MT201

Graphene Gold Nanoparticle Hybrid Based Near Infrared Photodetector

This paper presents novel and simplistic approach towards the development of graphene based near infrared (NIR) photodetectors. The developed device comprises of Au nanoparticles integrated within the channel of the back-gated graphene field effect transistors. The introduction of Au nanoparticles enhanced response of the device under IR illumination due improved NIR absorption. Further, dynamic response of the device under IR illumination is presented. This study will trigger the development of novel hybrid graphene device for graphene based photodetectors in IR regime

DCAL Data Archive and Management Policy

The DCAL Data Archiving and Management Policy outlines the goals of the Deafness Cognition and Language Research Centre (DCAL) at University College London to preserve and share research datasets in a manner that maximises their long-term ethical research use and value. The policy reflects UCL best research practise guidelines - as well as best practice guidelines from the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), DCAL’s funder from 2006 to 2016 - ensuring that research data is effectively and appropriately handled, organised, documented, and enhanced

Perceptions of childhood immunisations in rural Transkei - a qualitative study

Objectives. To examine perceptions of childhood illnesses, and the role of immunisation in preventing them, among caretakers of young children in Mhlakulo, a rural community in Transkei, Eastern Cape, and to suggest reasons for the low uptake of immunisations in that area. Design. In-depth qualitative research using semi-structured questionnaires, focus groups, and free listing. Methods. Detailed interviews were conducted using standardised semi-structured questionnaires. Interviews involved 60 caretakers of children aged under 5 years brought to a community health centre. Interviews were followed by two focus groups and free listing interviews to validate results of these questionnaires. Results. There was widespread acceptance of the value of immunisations in preventing childhood illnesses, but only vague knowledge of why they are given, and for what illnesses. The most common knowledge was of measles and polio, but there was only limited knowledge of BCG, DPT and other immunisations. Childhood illnesses were seen as multi-causal in origin, but there was a marked absence of germ theory in explaining them. Attitudes to the use of traditional medicines in childhood were generally negative. Conclusions. Despite positive perception of immunisations, there is widespread ignorance of what they are for, and how they work. This suggests the need for increased health education, more community participation, and organisational changes in primary care clinics to make them more userfriendly to caretakers of infants and young children. S Afr Med J 2004; 94: 835-838

Tuning Electrical Conductivity of CNT-PDMS Nanocomposites for Flexible Electronic Applications

This paper presents a study into the electrical conductivity of multi-wall carbon nanotube-polydimethylsiloxane (MWNT-PDMS) nanocomposite and their dependence on the filler concentration. It is observed that the electrical conductivity of the composites can be tailored by altering the filler concentration. Accordingly, the nanocomposites with filler weight ratio ranging from 1% to 8% were prepared and tested. Finally, the significance of results presented here for flexible pressure sensors and stretchable interconnects for electronic skin applications have been discussed

Perbandingan filogenetik protein antigen-I yang berpotensi sebagai calon diagnostik dan vaksin terhadap parasit cryptocaryon irritans

Protein antigen-i parasit ikan C. irritans berpotensi tinggi digunakan sebagai calon dalam pembangunan vaksin komersial terhadap C. irritans. Walau bagaimanapun, kewujudan variasi pada antigen-i serotip C. irritans yang berbeza mempengaruhi tahap perlindungan yang bakal diberikan terhadap varians C. irritans yang berbeza apabila antigen-i digunakan sebagai vaksin. Kajian ini dijalankan untuk membandingkan jujukan pelbagai antigen-i pencilan C. irritans di Malaysia berbanding antigen-i pencilan C. irritans yang pernah dilaporkan. Perbandingan filogenetik dijalankan untuk meramalkan potensi protein tersebut dalam usaha membangunkan calon serodiagnostik dan pemvaksinan terhadap pencilan C. irritans yang berlainan. Penjajaran jujukan berbilang bagi jujukan asid amino antigen-i dilakukan dengan perisian CLUSTALX dan analisis filogenetik antigen-i dilakukan menggunakan kaedah parsimoni maksimum (MP) dan kaedah Bayes. Sembilan transkrip unik (TU) C. irritans yang mempunyai padanan signifikan dengan antigen-i di pangkalan data protein NCBI didapati mempunyai peratus kesamaan antara 41% hingga 71%. Kedua-dua pohon MP dan Bayesian yang dijana menunjukkan varians antigen-i cn56 and cn57 terkelompok bersama dalam satu kumpulan manakala varians antigen-i yang lain terbahagi kepada dua kumpulan berasingan dan pengkelompokan ini disokong oleh kehadiran asid amino yang terpulihara dalam kumpulan masing-masing. Kajian lanjutan boleh dilakukan untuk mengenal pasti varians antigen-i yang sesuai sebagai calon serodiagnosis dan juga dapat memberi perlindungan silang terhadap pelbagai pencilan C. irritans di serata dunia