Damage Assessment of Reinforced Concrete Structures: A Review

Damage may be assessed using several damage indices with values associated with different structural damage states. The usefulness of a variety of current response-based damage indices in seismic damage assessment is addressed and critically assessed. A novel rational damage assessment method is provided, which measures the structure’s physical reaction characteristics. A practical method based on various analyses is given to evaluate the damaged structures in earthquakes of different intensities. This paper provides an overview of previous research works on the damage assessment of the reinforced concrete structures. This study may be helpful for easy understanding about the damage assessment of reinforced concrete structures and reduce the impacts of disaster and surrounding structures.

Damage Assessment of Reinforced Concrete Structures: A Review

Damage may be assessed using several damage indices with values associated with different structural damage states. The usefulness of a variety of current response-based damage indices in seismic damage assessment is addressed and critically assessed. A novel rational damage assessment method is provided, which measures the structure’s physical reaction characteristics. A practical method based on various analyses is given to evaluate the damaged structures in earthquakes of different intensities. This paper provides an overview of previous research works on the damage assessment of the reinforced concrete structures. This study may be helpful for easy understanding about the damage assessment of reinforced concrete structures and reduce the impacts of disaster and surrounding structures.

Graphene Oxide Functionalized Biosensor for Detection of Stress-Related Biomarkers

A graphene oxide (GO)-based cortisol biosensor was developed to accurately detect cortisol concentrations from sweat samples at point-of-care (POC) sites. A reference electrode, counter electrode, and working electrode make up the biosensor, and the working electrode was functionalized using multiple layers consisting of GO and antibodies, including Protein A, IgG, and anti-Cab. Sweat samples contact the anti-Cab antibodies to transport electrons to the electrode, resulting in an electrochemical current response. The sensor was tested at each additional functionalization layer and at cortisol concentrations between 0.1 and 150 ng/mL to determine how the current response differed. A potentiostat galvanostat device was used to measure and quantify the electrochemical response in the GO-based biosensor. In both tests, the electrochemical responses were reduced in magnitude with the addition of antibody layers and with increased cortisol concentrations. The proposed cortisol biosensor has increased accuracy with each additional functionalization layer, and the proposed device has the capability to accurately measure cortisol concentrations for diagnostic purposes.

Achieving Electrochemical-Sustainable-Based Solutions for Monitoring and Treating Hydroxychloroquine in Real Water Matrix

Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) has been extensively consumed due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Therefore, it is increasingly found in different water matrices. For this reason, the concentration of HCQ in water should be monitored and the treatment of contaminated water matrices with HCQ is a key issue to overcome immediately. Thus, in this study, the development of technologies and smart water solutions to reach the Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG6) is the main objective. To do that, the integration of electrochemical technologies for their environmental application on HCQ detection, quantification and degradation was performed. Firstly, an electrochemical cork-graphite sensor was prepared to identify/quantify HCQ in river water matrices by differential pulse voltammetric (DPV) method. Subsequently, an HCQ-polluted river water sample was electrochemically treated with BDD electrode by applying 15, 30 and 45 mA cm−2. The HCQ decay and organic matter removal was monitored by DPV with composite sensor and chemical oxygen demand (COD) measurements, respectively. Results clearly confirmed that, on the one hand, the cork-graphite sensor exhibited good current response to quantify of HCQ in the river water matrix, with limit of detection and quantification of 1.46 mg L−1 (≈3.36 µM) and 4.42 mg L−1 (≈10.19 µM), respectively. On the other hand, the electrochemical oxidation (EO) efficiently removed HCQ from real river water sample using BDD electrodes. Complete HCQ removal was achieved at all applied current densities; whereas in terms of COD, significant removals (68%, 71% and 84% at 15, 30 and 45 mA cm−2, respectively) were achieved. Based on the achieved results, the offline integration of electrochemical SDG6 technologies in order to monitor and remove HCQ is an efficient and effective strategy.

Learning from the report of the independent medicines and medical devices safety review: “first do no harm”

This is a review of the learning points from the Independent Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Review, 1 chaired by Baroness Julia Cumberlege CBE DL. This system-wide review was initiated by the then Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, following patient-led campaigns. It looked at how the “healthcare system reacted as a whole, and how that response can be made more robust, speedy and appropriate”. We aim to highlight the learning points for doctors in Obstetrics and Gynaecology as these are relevant to our current practice and future changes in our healthcare system. These are: Aims of the review: why it was initiated and how it was conducted Overarching themes and missed opportunities to prevent avoidable harm Three clinical scenarios: their histories, issues and adverse events associated with their use and the current response in Scotland The hormone pregnancy test - Primodos The anti-epileptic drug - sodium valproate Surgical mesh for prolapse & incontinence The recommendations made by the review and implementation guidance Responses to the review, such as apologies issued by BSUG 2 /BAUS 3 /RCOG, 4 and compensations schemes such as the Scottish scheme as recommended by the review

Performance of graphene-zinc oxide nanocomposite coated-glassy carbon electrode in the sensitive determination of para-nitrophenol

Graphene: zinc oxide nanocomposite (GN:ZnO NC) platform was tried for the sensitive determination of para-nitrophenol (p-NP) through the electrochemical method. ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized by the modified wet-chemical method where in potassium hydroxide and zinc nitrate were used as precursors and starch as a stabilizing agent. A green and facile approach was applied to synthesize GN:ZnO NC in which glucose was employed as a reductant to reduce graphene-oxide to graphene in the presence of ZnO NPs. The synthesized NC was characterized using scanning and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, energy dispersive x-ray analysis, X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopic techniques to examine the crystal phase, crystallinity, morphology, chemical composition and phase structure. GN:ZnO NC layer deposited over the glassy carbon electrode (GCE) was initially probed for its electrochemical performance using the standard 1 mM K3[Fe(CN)6] model complex. GN:ZnO NC modified GCE was monitored based on p-NP concentration. An enhanced current response was observed in 0.1 M phosphate buffer of pH 6.8 for the determination of p-NP in a linear working range of 0.09 × 10–6 to 21.80 × 10–6 M with a lower detection limit of 8.8 × 10–9 M employing square wave adsorptive stripping voltammetric technique at a deposition-potential and deposition-time of − 1.0 V and 300 s, respectively. This electrochemical sensor displayed very high specificity for p-NP with no observed interference from some other possible interfering substances such as 2, 4-di-NP, ortho-NP, and meta-NP. The developed strategy was useful for sensitive detection of p-NP quantity in canals/rivers and ground H2O samples with good recoveries.

High performance silicon electrode enabled by titanicone coating

This paper presents the electrochemical performance and characterization of nano Si electrodes coated with titanicone (TiGL) as an anode for Li ion batteries (LIBs). Atomic layer deposition (ALD) of the metal combined with the molecular layer deposition (MLD) of the organic precursor is used to prepare coated electrodes at different temperatures with improved performance compared to the uncoated Si electrode. Coated electrodes prepared at 150 °C deliver the highest capacity and best current response of 1800 mAh g−1 at 0.1 C and 150 mAh g−1 at 20 C. This represented a substantial improvement compared to the Si baseline which delivers a capacity of 1100 mAh g−1 at 0.1 C but fails to deliver capacity at 20 C. Moreover, the optimized coated electrode shows an outstanding capacity of 1200 mAh g−1 at 1 C for 350 cycles with a capacity retention of 93%. The improved discharge capacity, electrode efficiencies, rate capability and electrochemical stability for the Si-based electrode presented in this manuscript are directly correlated to the optimized TiGL coating layer deposited by the ALD/MLD processes, which enhances lithium kinetics and electronic conductivity as demonstrated by equivalent circuit analysis of low frequency impedance data and conductivity measurements. The coating strategy also stabilizes SEI film formation with better Coulombic efficiencies (CE) and improves long cycling stability by reducing capacity lost.

Research Trends on Climate Change and Circular Economy from a Knowledge Mapping Perspective

The circular economy (CE) has been proposed as a potentially significant catalyst to enhance the current response to the global climate crisis. The objective of this study was to investigate the scientific literature of the research between climate change and CE adopting a knowledge mapping approach. Based on a total of 789 peer-reviewed publications extracted from Scopus, we found that research on climate change and CE is continually growing and interdisciplinary in nature. Europe notably leads scientific production. Keyword evolution shows that CE has been influenced by more lines of research than climate change. We also found that waste management is the CE approach most associated with climate change, mitigation is the climate action most impacted by CE, and food is the most reported greenhouse gas (GHG)-emitting material. However, there are knowledge gaps in the integration of the social dimension, the promotion of climate change adaptation, and the association of sustainable development goal (SDG) 13. Finally, we identified four potentially valuable directions for future studies: (i) CE practices, (ii) bioeconomy, (iii) climate and energy, and (iv) sustainability and natural resources, in which carbon recovery technologies, green materials, regional supply chains, circular agriculture models, and nature-based solutions are promising themes.

Frequency dependence on polarization switching measurement in ferroelectric capacitors

Ferroelectric hysteresis loop measurement under high driving frequency generally faces great challenges. Parasitic factors in testing circuits such as leakage current and RC delay could result in abnormal hysteresis loops with erroneous remnant polarization (P r) and coercive field (E c). In this study, positive-up-negative-down (PUND) measurement under a wide frequency range was performed on a 10-nm thick Hf0.5Zr0.5O2 ferroelectric film. Detailed analysis on the leakage current and RC delay was conducted as the polarization switching occurs in the FE capacitor. After considering the time lag caused by RC delay, reasonable calibration of current response over the voltage pulse stimulus was employed in the integral of polarization current over time. In such a method, rational P–V loops measured at high frequencies (>1 MHz) was successfully achieved. This work provides a comprehensive understanding on the effect of parasitic factors on the polarization switching behavior of FE films.