Synthesis and Characterization of Glycidyl Esters of Acrylic and Methacrylic Acids for NIPU Coatings

Glycidyl acrylate (GA) and Glycidylmethacrylate (GMA) are the reaction products of the epichlorohydrin (ECH) with acrylic acid (AA) and methacrylic acid (MAA) respectively. These monomers were synthesized via two different routes i.e. direct reaction of AA and MAA with ECH and second by reaction of AA and MAA with Sodium hydroxide to form sodium salt of the acid followed by reacting with ECH. The polymerization inhibitor used was tert-butyl hydroquinone (TBHQ) and catalysts used were triethylamine (TEA) and quaternary ammonium salt. Experimental results show that first route is suitable for synthesizing GA and second route is suitable for synthesis of GMA. The catalysts also have drastic effect on the conversion to the respective glycidyl esters. The study of the effect of catalyst and polymerization inhibitor has been carried out via both routes.

Drivers and Properties of Waves in the Inner Magnetosphere

How different wave modes are driven, is a central issue in space plasma physics. A practical problem is that often only indirect evidence of the driver can be identified in observations. The plasma environment is complex and variable and already a small difference in background or initial conditions may lead to widely different observable outcomes. In this chapter we discuss drivers of waves causing acceleration, transport and loss of radiation belt particles, whereas Chap. 10.1007/978-3-030-82167-8_6 discusses these effects in detail. We note that while this division is motivated in a textbook, it is somewhat artificial and the growth of the waves and their consequences often need to be studied together. For example, a whistler-mode wave can grow from thermal fluctuations due to gyro-resonant interactions until a marginally stable state is reached or nonlinear growth takes over. The growing wave starts to interact with different particle populations leading to damping or further growth of the wave. The fluxes of the higher-energy radiation belt particles are, however, small compared to the lower-energy background population, which supports the wave. Thus their effects on the overall wave activity usually remain small, although the waves can have drastic effect on higher-energy populations. Consequently, these two chapters should be studied together.

Characteristics of Heatwaves in Africa: Morocco 2000 and South Africa 2015/16

Heatwaves pose an ever increasing risk to African communities as exposure to heat extremes can have a drastic effect on individuals and in some cases can even result in death. This study presents new information about the characteristics of historical African heatwaves including a comprehensive synopsis of documented heatwave events from 1980 until 2020.Detailed research on heatwave case studies helps to inform the development of early warning systems and forecasting, which is an urgent priority. Here, the focus is on two reported heatwaves, Morocco 2000 and South Africa 2015/16. Both heatwaves feature in the Emergency Events Disaster database (EM-DAT) and include reported impacts, with the Morocco heat being the only hazard to be associated with an economic cost. In addition, these heatwaves reveal how the mechanisms behind them are closely influenced by synoptic systems and geography of their regions. Further, It is demonstrated there is some reporting by African Nations for heatwaves but that this needs significant improvement.

Historia i sytuacja języka łemkowskiego w ostatnim stuleciu

The aim of this paper is to briefl y present the situation of the Lemko language from the historical perspective covering one hundred years of its development. The creation of Lemkos’ linguistic awareness and identity before their displacements (1945–1947) has been clearly refl ected in literature. It provides the foundation for reconstructing the main emancipatory identity line developed based on “our language”, equivalent to the local speech, followed by the Lemko intelligentsia, while confronting the social and political considerations of their native area. A drastic effect of the considerations was displacements, destruction of culture, and lack of conditions for fostering language. The recovery of language rights after 1989 has initiated a range of internal revitalisation processes and strategies supported also institutionally. They are, however, not able to stop the mass destructive processes resulting in the Lemko language being currently among the endangered ones

Effect of Strain on Heating Characteristics of Silicone/CNT Composites

In this work, silicone/carbon nanotube (CNT) composites were produced using a spread coating process, followed by morphological investigations and determination of their electrical properties and heating behaviour through the application of electric potential. Composites containing varying amounts of CNT (1–7%) were investigated for their thermal behaviour with the use of an IR camera. Subsequently, thermal behaviour and electrical properties were measured when the samples were stretched (up to 20%). With the 7% CNT composites, which had a conductivity of 106 S/m, it was possible to achieve a temperature of 155 °C at a relatively low voltage of 23 V. For high CNT contents, when the potential was controlled in such a way as to maintain the temperature well below 100 °C, the temperature remained almost constant at all levels of strain investigated. At higher potentials yielding temperatures around 100 °C and above, stretching had a drastic effect on temperature. These results are critical for designing composites for dynamic applications requiring a material whose properties remain stable under strain.

PARAMETRIC MODELLING OF WEIGHT AND VOLUME EFFECTS IN BATTERY ELECTRIC VEHICLES, WITH FOCUS ON THE GEARBOX

The modeling of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) still represents a challenge for vehicle manufacturers. The installation of the new types of components needed for BEVs gives rise to uncertainties in the quantification of parameters like the vehicle's weight. Indeed, vehicle weight plays a key role, since it has a drastic effect on the vehicle's range, which is an important selling point for BEVs. Uncertainties in weight estimation create weight fluctuations during the early development phase and the need to resize components like the electric machine or battery. This in turn affects the components' volume and weight. However, such resizing can also lead to component collision and unfeasibility of the vehicle architecture. To solve this problem and to support concept engineers during the early development phase, an iterative approach is required that is capable of estimating weight and volume fluctuations in the relevant components. The approach should also consider the geometrical interdependencies of the components, to ensure that no collisions occur between them. Taking the gearbox as an example application, this paper presents a novel approach that satisfies these requirements.

Progress and prospects of developing climate resilient wheat in South Asia using modern pre-breeding methods

: Developing climate-resilient wheat is a priority for South Asia since the effect of climate change will be pronounced on the major crops that are staple to the region. South Asia must produce >400 million metric tons (MMT) of wheat by 2050 to meet the demand. However, the current average yield <3 t/ha is not sufficient to meet the requirement. In this review, we are addressing how pre-breeding methods in wheat can address the gap in grain yield as well as reduce the bottleneck of genetic diversity. Physiological pre-breeding, which incorporates screening of diverse germplasm from gene banks for physiological and agronomic traits, the strategic crossing of complementary traits, high throughput phenotyping, molecular markers-based generation advancement, genomic prediction, and validation of high-value heat and drought tolerant lines to South Asia, can help to alleviate the drastic effect of climate change on wheat production. There are several gene banks, if utilized well, can play a major role in breeding for climate-resilient wheat. CIMMYT’s wheat physiological pre-breeding has delivered several hundred lines via the Stress Adapted Trait Yield Nursery (SATYN) to the NARS in many South Asian countries; India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and Iran. Some of these improved germplasms have resulted in varieties for farmer's fields. We conclude the review by pointing out the importance of collaborative interdisciplinary translational research to alleviate the effects of climate change on wheat production in South Asia.

Assessing wellbeing in foundation doctors during the COVID-19 pandemic

AimsThe COVID-19 pandemic has had a drastic effect on the mental health of the global population that is likely to be felt for years to come. One group particuarly likely to be affected by this in the immediate future are the healthcare professionals working on the frontline of the NHS pandemic response. As members of a foundation cohort of these junior doctors we aimed to create a way to quanitfy the wellbeing of ourselves and our colleagues at this challeging time. We aimed to use a combination of numerous tools to monitor foundation doctors in Blackburn during this crisis. This would inform which measures would be best suited to be put in place to protect this cohort from early burnout and poor mental health in the future.MethodWe designed a survey of 25 questions which we invited our foundation colleagues to fill in anonymously during the first and second waves of the pandemic in response to times when foundation doctors were redeployed to aid the frontline. The survey has been based on the PHQ9, GAD7, Epworth Sleepiness scale, Physician wellbeing index, Medical students wellbeing index, Maslach burnout inventory BMA burnout questionnaire and the QOL scale.ResultFrom a cohort of around 140 foundation doctors we had 46 participants in our trial of this tool; 46% had been redeployed and 54% not redeployed. Over 50% of survey respondents reported high stress, poor motivation and depersonalisation over the two weeks at the peak of the pandemic, key early signs of burnout. Lack of interest in their work, poor sleep and anhedonia were increased across both groups (redeployed and non redeployed). The interventions after the first wave data which repondents found beneficial included; financial reassurances during redeployments, protected non clinical areas for rest, a named individual senior staff member for wellbeing support.ConclusionKey issues the survey raised were fed back to foundation programme leads in monthly meetings. This allowed us with our foundation leads to make targeted changes in order to support foundation doctors at this time. Without the data from this tool which we tailored to the foundation experience we believe these rapidly worsening issues during the pandemic would not have been addressed so swiftly. We then resurveyed the foundation cohort to assess which of these interventions have been most widely used and appreciated.