Carbon fibre composites: integrated electrochemical sensors for wound management

The applicability of employing a carbon fibre mesh as an electrochemical sensing substructure for assessing urate transformations within wound exudates is evaluated. Prototype sensor assemblies have been designed and their response characteristics towards uric acid and other common physiological components are detailed. Modification of the carbon fibre sensor through surface anodisation and the application of cellulose acetate permselective barriers have been shown to lead to optimized responses and much greater sensitivity (1440% increase) and specificity. These could enable the accurate periodic monitoring of uric acid in wound fluid. The performance characteristics of the composite sensors in whole blood, serum and blister fluid have been investigated

Physics of Absorption and Generation of Electromagnetic Radiation

The chapter is divided into two parts. In the first part, the chapter discusses the theory of propagation of electromagnetic waves in different media with the help of Maxwell’s equations of electromagnetic fields. The electromagnetic waves with low frequency are suitable for the communication in sea water and are illustrated with numerical examples. The underwater communication have been used for the oil (gas) field monitoring, underwater vehicles, coastline protection, oceanographic data collection, etc. The mathematical expression of penetration depth of electromagnetic waves is derived. The significance of penetration depth (skin depth) and loss angle are clarified with numerical examples. The interaction of electromagnetic waves with human tissue is also discussed. When an electric field is applied to a dielectric, the material takes a finite amount of time to polarize. The imaginary part of the permittivity is corresponds to the absorption length of radiation inside biological tissue. In the second part of the chapter, it has been shown that a high frequency wave can be generated through plasma under the presence of electron beam. The electron beam affects the oscillations of plasma and triggers the instability called as electron beam instability. In this section, we use magnetohydrodynamics theory to obtain the modified dispersion relation under the presence of electron beam with the help of the Poisson’s equation. The high frequency instability in plasma grow with the magnetic field, wave length, collision frequency and the beam density. The growth rate linearly increases with collision frequency of electrons but it is decreases with the drift velocity of electrons. The real frequency of the instability increases with magnetic field, azimuthal wave number and beam density. The real frequency is almost independent with the collision frequency of the electrons

Numerical Investigations of Electromagnetic Oscillations and Turbulences in Hall Thrusters Using Two Fluid Approach

The first part of the contributed chapter discuss the overview of electric propulsion technology and its requirement in different space missions. The technical terms specific impulse and thrust are explained with their relation to exhaust velocity. The shortcoming of the Hall thrusters and its erosion problems of the channel walls are also conveyed. The second part of the chapter discuss the various waves and electromagnetic instabilities propagating in a Hall thruster magnetized plasma. The dispersion relation for the azimuthal growing waves is derived analytically with the help of magnetohydrodynamics theory. It is depicted that the growth rate of the instability increases with magnetic field, electron drift velocity and collisional frequency, whereas it is decreases with the initial drift of the ions

Análisis de la evolución de las cooperaciones tecnológicas en España (2003 – 2016)

En este trabajo analizamos empíricamente la evolución de las colaboraciones tecnológicas en el periodo de años comprendidos entre el 2003 y el 2016. En primer lugar, se presenta un marco introductorio basado en la literatura previamente definida por numerosos autores, haciendo hincapié en el estudio de la relevancia de las colaboraciones tecnológicas, sus ventajas, desventajas, motivos que llevan a las empresas a cooperar entre ellas y los tipos de socios que pueden existir. Posteriormente, y para el desarrollo del análisis empírico, contamos con una base de datos proveniente del Panel de Innovación Tecnológica (PITEC), el cual recoge la información necesaria para poder realizar un seguimiento de las innovaciones tecnológicas de un total de 12849 empresas españolas, las cuales se reducen finalmente a unas 2014, tras realizar un preciso proceso de selección para conseguir esa muestra final. Además de ese análisis evolutivo de las colaboraciones tecnológicas, se realiza un estudio sobre los posibles factores que han podido influir en las cooperaciones. Finalmente, los resultados obtenidos muestran la posible influencia de elementos en el comportamiento de las cooperaciones entre empresas, a lo largo de los años estudiados., como la ubicación en parques tecnológicos, el desarrollo de innovaciones de todo tipo y las introducciones de productos nuevos para el mercado o las empresas.Palabras clave: Cooperación tecnológica, innovación, parque tecnológico.<br /

Preparation and Investigation of Transparent Conducting Aluminium-doped Zinc Oxide Films Prepared by Sol-gel Method for Sensor Application

Aluminium doped Zinc Oxide (AZO) thin films were prepared through chemical route using sol gel method at different annealing temperatures with three different concentrations of Al. It has been observed that on increasing in the annealing temperature, the crystallinity of the films improved. The XRD patters confirms the polycrystalline nature of the samples and found that increasing annealing temperature, increases the crystallinity of the films. The UV-vis spectroscopy analysis shows that, the band-gap decreases in all three concentration of Al ions in ZnO with temperature. The conductivity and the grain size increases with temperature. The band gap corresponding to the absorption decreases with increased annealing temperature

Plasma Waves and Rayleigh–Taylor Instability: Theory and Application

The presence of plasma density gradient is one of the main sources of Rayleigh–Taylor instability (RTI). The Rayleigh–Taylor instability has application in meteorology to explain cloud formations and in astrophysics to explain finger formation. It has wide applications in the inertial confinement fusion to determine the yield of the reaction. The aim of the chapter is to discuss the current status of the research related to RTI. The current research related to RTI has been reviewed, and general dispersion relation has been derived under the thermal motion of electron. The perturbed densities of ions and electrons are determined using two fluid approach under the small amplitude of oscillations. The dispersion equation is derived with the help of Poisson’s equation and solved numerically to investigate the effect of various parameters on the growth rate and real frequency. It has been shown that the real frequency increases with plasma density gradient, electron temperature and the wavenumber, but magnetic field has opposite effect on it. On the other hand, the growth rate of instability increases with magnetic field and density gradient, but it decreases with electron temperature and wave number

ARE TODAY’S MOTHER AWARE ENOUGH ABOUT BREAST FEEDING?: A KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE STUDY ON URBAN MOTHERS

Background: Breastfeeding is a widespread practice in though out India. However it has been changing over the years, particularly in the past few decades. We need to keep exploring Knowledge and practices of mother regarding breast feeding for timely intervention and maintenance of his valuable age old practice. Objective: This study was aimed to explore mother’s knowledge, attitude and practice regarding breastfeeding. Methods: By using pre tested questioner, 200 mothers delivered in last one year were interviewed to obtain information regarding knowledge, Attitude and practice of breast feeding. The study was conducted in area served by an Urban Health Clinic. Result: Knowledge on proper breast feeding technique was found inadequate in study participants. Only 10% women were aware about intitiation of breast feeding within half hour of delivery. Benefits of colostrums, importance of exclusive breast feeding and benefits of night feeding were known to 25%, 15% and 15% mothers respectively. Less than half (41.4%) mother had started breast feeding within half hour of birth while 15% were practicing exclusive breast feeding. Attachment and positioning techniques of 60% mother were found improper. None of the mother interviewed in the study got counseling on breast feeding during ANC visits. Conclusion: Harmful socio-cultural practices like giving prelacteal feeds, delayed initiation of breastfeeding after birth, late introduction of weaning foods and avoidance of exclusive breastfeeding are still common among the mothers