Bio-medical waste management in different hospitals of Guwahati and its effect on environment

Biomedical waste may be defined as the waste which is produced during the diagnosis, research activities, treatment of patients, treatment of animals, production and testing of biological product and including articles as mentioned in schedule I of the Biomedical Waste (Management and handling) (second amendment) Rules 2000, as per Ministry of  Environment and Forests notification. Proper treatment, handling, and disposal of biomedical wastes is essential for healthcare infection control program. There may be a high risk of infections in patients due to the poor management of biomedical waste which can lead to antibiotic resistance. It is not only the health of the patient, but also the health of persons who are associated with health care industry equally important. This article speaks about how the hospitals present in Guwahati treat their waste material and the effect of the waste in the environmen

Interlaminar resistive heating behavior of ZnO nanorods/woven carbon fiber composites

This paper addressed the interlaminar region characterization complying with electrical resistive heating behavior of ZnO/woven carbon fiber laminae reinforced composites. The interlaminar region is composed of ZnO nanostructure arrays embedded on woven carbon fibers interacted with the thermoset vinyl ester resin. The ZnO nanostructure arrays are formed to the nanorods synthesized using hydrothermal process. In order to investigate the electrical resistive heating behavior of the interlaminar region, three different zones have been classified as heating zone, maximum temperature zone, and the cooling zone. The electrical resistive heating temperature was shown effectively at the interlaminar region due to the intrinsic plain weaved carbon fiber multiple junctions as well as the multi-junctions of ZnO nanorods. In room zone, the contact resistance of ZnO/woven carbon fiber laminae reinforced composites was increased as the ZnO molar concentration was became higher from 10mM to 110mM

Electrochemical performance evaluation of tin oxide nanorod-embedded woven carbon fiber composite supercapacitor

Tin oxide (SnO2) nanorod (NR)-fabricated composite capacitors have been developed by vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding process. The NRs were synthesized on carbon fiber by following hydrothermal synthesis method. Such SnO2 grown woven carbon fiber (WCF) capacitor that contains structural and energy storage functions saves system weight and volume; hence, it could offer benefits to electric vehicle, aerospace, and portable electric device industries. The SnO2-WCF was considered as electrode and exhibited enhanced surface area relative to bare WCF. Energy storage performances of SnO2-WCF capacitors were characterized by cyclic voltammetry, galvanostatic charge-discharge, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements, and improved specific capacitance (0.148 F/g), energy density (15.06 mWh/kg), and power density (1.16 W/kg) were achieved at 30 mM of SnO2 concentration. Hence, this study shows that the growth of SnO2 NRs on WCF surfaces offers accessible surface area for electric charge and presented potential application of SnO2-WCF composites to energy storage industries

Large pulsed electron beam (LPEB)-processed woven carbon fiber/ZnO nanorod/polyester resin composites

The surface modification of materials by large pulsed electron beam (LPEB) processing is an emerging eco-friendly technique that can be applied to relatively large surface areas. In this study, a polyester-based woven carbon fiber (WCF)/ZnO nanorod hybrid composite was developed using a vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding process. LPEB processing was used to modify the surface of the carbon fiber (CF) composite prior to the growth of the ZnO nanorods. The effects of this electron beam treatment on WCFs were investigated by scanning electron microscopy as a function of ZnO nanorod growth. LPEB treatment resulted in a remarkable increase in the growth of ZnO nanorods. This increase, which resulted in an increase in the electrical resistance of the samples, was further investigated by X-ray diffraction analyses. LPEB-treated samples exhibited higher impact resistance due to strong interactions among the ZnO, CF, and polyester resin.close0

Multifunctional composite as a structural supercapacitor and self-sensing sensor using NiCo2O4 nanowires and ionic liquid

A novel multifunctional composite has been developed with functions of a supercapacitor and structural health monitoring sensor. The need for energy efficiency, lightweightness, and safety motivated the study for the multifunctional composite. The electrical energy storage was realized by nickel-cobaltite-grown conductive unidirectional carbon fibers (UDCFs), an aramid fiber, and an ionic liquid with a lithium-based salt as electrodes, a separator, and an electrolyte of the supercapacitor, respectively. The structural health monitoring sensor was enabled using the electrical resistance changes of the composite under mechanical loading. These functions can be utilized for the structural supercapacitor and self-sensing structure. Hence, the composite is called a 2-in-1 multifunctional composite. The nickel cobaltite nanowire and ionic liquid exhibited promising energy storage capacitance (37.43 F g(-1)) as a structural supercapacitor. Moreover, its energy density and power density were 176.37 mWh kg(-1) and 36.96 W kg(-1), respectively. The UDCF exhibited a clear electromechanical behavior. Therefore, the electrical resistance of the composite indicates an applied mechanical deformation, similar to that observed in a deformation sensor. The difference in electromechanical sensitivity with respect to the loading direction was investigated considering the orthotropic composition of the composite. The developed 2-in-1 multifunctional composite exhibits advantages of lightweightness, high energy storage, self-sensing, and facile engineering design and, thus, can be applied in various fields such as automobiles, aerospace, civil infrastructure, and industrial plants

Markov chain algorithms:A template for building future robust low power systems

Although computational systems are looking towards post CMOS devices in the pursuit of lower power, the expected inherent unreliability of such devices makes it difficult to design robust systems without additional power overheads for guaranteeing robustness. As such, algorithmic structures with inherent ability to tolerate computational errors are of significant interest. We propose to cast applications as stochastic algorithms based on Markov chains (MCs) as such algorithms are both sufficiently general and tolerant to transition errors. We show with four example applications—Boolean satisfiability, sorting, low-density parity-check decoding and clustering—how applications can be cast as MC algorithms. Using algorithmic fault injection techniques, we demonstrate the robustness of these implementations to transition errors with high error rates. Based on these results, we make a case for using MCs as an algorithmic template for future robust low-power systems

Recent development and challenges of multifunctional structural supercapacitors for automotive industries

In the last decades, fuel scarcity and increasing pollution level pave the way for an extensive interest in alternatives to petroleum-based fuels such as biodiesel, solar cells, lithium ion batteries, and supercapacitors. Among them, structural supercapacitors have been considered as promising candidates for automotive industries in present time. Herein, the use of carbon fiber-based supercapacitors in automotive applications is reviewed. Carbon fiber is an excellent candidate for vehicle body applications, and its composites could be widely used in the development of supercapacitors that could provide both structural and energy storage functions. Different surface modification processes of the carbon fiber electrode to enhance the electrochemical as well as mechanical performances are discussed. The advantages of the glass fiber separator and its comparison with other types of dielectric media have been incorporated. The synthesis procedures of the multifunctional solid polymer electrolyte and its significance have been also elaborated. The fabrication process, component selection, limitations, and future challenges of these supercapacitors are briefly assimilated in this review

Biomechanical Energy-Harvesting Wearable Textile-Based Personal Thermal Management Device Containing Epitaxially Grown Aligned Ag-Tipped-NixCo1-xSe Nanowires/Reduced Graphene Oxide

Energy consumption is increasing with the rapid growth of externally powered electronics. A vast amount of energy is needed for indoor heating, and body heat is dissipated to the surroundings. Recently, wearable heaters have attracted interest for their efficiency in providing articular thermotherapy. Herein, the fabrication of a personal thermal management device with a self-powering ability to generate heat through triboelectricity is reported. Composites are prepared with vertically aligned silver tipped nickel cobalt selenide (Ag@NixCo1-xSe) nanowire arrays synthesized on the surface of woven Kevlar fiber (WKF) sheets and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) dispersed in polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). The Ag@NixCo1-xSe with rGO induces effective Joule heating in the composites (79 degrees C at 2.1 V). The WKF/Ag@NixCo1-xSe/PDMS composite shows higher infrared reflectivity (98.1%) and thermal insulation (54.8%) than WKF/PDMS. The WKF/Ag@NixCo1-xSe/PDMS/rGO composite has an impact resistance and tensile strength that are 152.2% and 92.1% higher, respectively, than those of WKF/PDMS. A maximum output power density of 1.1 mW cm(-2) at a low frequency of 5 Hz confirms efficient mechanical energy harvesting of the composites, which enables self-heating. The high flexibility, breathability, washability, and effective heat generation achieved during body movement satisfy the wearability requirement and can address global energy concerns

Microwave-induced hierarchical iron-carbon nanotubes nanostructures anchored on polypyrrole/graphene oxide-grafted woven Kevlar (R) fiber

Iron-carbon nanotube (Fe-CNT) nanostructures were synthesized in 15-30 s through the microwave irradiation of woven Kevlar(R) fibers (WKFs) deposited with either polypyrrole (PPy) or polypyrrole/graphene oxide (GO). Microwave-induced growth of Fe-CNT on the base fibers is a simple technique and has not been previously reported using WKF as a substrate. This method of forming composites avoids the difficulties associated with obtaining a homogeneous dispersion of CNT in a surrounding matrix material. Iron-decorated CNTs were synthesized on WKF and polyester resin (PES) via vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding. Substantial improvements in tensile strength (upto 122.57%) and moduli (upto 89.82%) were observed for Fe-CNTs grown on the WKF/PES composites. The impact response and in-plane shear strength were also significantly enhanced compared to bare WKF/PES composites. In situ polymerization of pyrrole on WKF altered the electrically insulating behavior of Kevlar, creating a conductive material. Fe-CNT/PPy-coated WKF/PES exhibited the highest electrical conductivity. This proposed approach for growing Fe-CNTs constitutes a novel and economical means of developing high-performance WKF/CNT composites with enhanced mechanical properties and electrical conductivity.clos