bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Effect of Heat Treatment on Crystalline, Electrical and Optical Properties of ZnO/PVA Nanocomposites
Authors: Ismardi Abrar , Nasir Muhammad , Abdullah Nor Hakimin , Fadila Wan Rizti , Shentya Erina Fitri , Ratnaduhita Santika , Wahyudi Diki Ribut
Published: November 2023

ZnO/PVA nanocomposites have been successfully synthesized using the spin coating method by using synthesized ZnO, ZnO nanoparticles as filler, and PVA as a matrix. The synthesized films were treated at temperatures of 70, 90, and 120 °C. Some characterizations, such as I-V, UV-Vis, XRD, and SEM, have been carried out to study the electrical, crystalline, and optical properties of ZnO/PVA nanocomposites. The characterization of electrical properties using I-V measurements showed that ZnOsynthesized/PVA had a high current value of 1.55 nA, while ZnOnano/PVA had a smaller current value of 1.49 nA when treated at 120 °C. In addition, the higher the treatment temperature, the greater the resistance of ZnOsynthesized/PVA and ZnOnano/PVA. UV-Vis characterization showed that ZnOnano/PVA experienced a red shift when the temperature increased, while ZnOsynthesized/PVA and ZnOnano/PVA when treated at 120 °C experienced a blue shift. XRD characterization of ZnOnano/PVA showed that the higher the given temperature, the lower the crystallinity, from 45.77 to 34.81%. SEM characterization showed that ZnOnano/PVA at room temperature agglomerated and formed larger particles.
Use of Plat-Bar Electrode Media to Detect Partial Discharge in Epoxy Resin Materials on PCB Surfaces
Authors: Mulyana Elih , Somantri Maman , Ardiansyah Neris P. , Yusri Chafidz. D.
Published: November 2023

The electric power system must have a protection system with reliable electric power isolation, so that the supply of electrical energy works properly and optimally. There are several kinds of disturbances in the electric power distribution system, one of which is a partial discharge. This study aims to investigate the effect of plate-rod electrodes on partial discharge, partial discharge voltage limits in solid insulation, and the characteristics of partial discharge in electrode media, and waveforms in partial discharge detection sensors. After conducting research, it was found that in the plate-rod type electrode media, the PDIV voltage appeared earlier than the plate-plate electrode media due to the cross-sectional area of the electrode media. And the limit of the pre-discharge voltage of PCB type solid insulation on the plate-bar electrodes is at a voltage of 1.3 kV. Several indicators to determine the characteristics of the partial discharge are background noise off (BGN off), background noise on (BGN on), partial discharge inception voltage (PDIV), and partial discharge voltage. After being examined, the value of each partial discharge detection voltage was obtained at negative and positive polarity voltages on the electrode plates and plate needles respectively 2.85 kV, 2.95 kV and 1.32 kV, 1.57 kV.
Simulation and Characterization of Carbon Nanotube-based 2:1 Multiplexer Electrical Properties
Authors: Ying Yong Jie , Johari Zaharah
Published: November 2023

This paper reports on using simulation to characterize a Carbon Nanotube (CNT) based 2:1 multiplexer (MUX). This study aimed to evaluate the electrical properties, particularly the propagation delay, average power consumption, Power-Delay Product (PDP), and Energy-Delay Product (EDP). Different design approaches namely conventional CMOS, Pass Transistor Logic (PTL) approach, and Gate Diffusion Input (GDI) were adopted. The voltage supply (VDD) and diameter of the CNT are varied to see the effect on the electrical properties. The simulation was carried out using HSPICE. Through simulation, it is found that the GDI approach used the least number of transistors followed by PTL and CMOS. The calculation of the propagation delay exhibits a substantial improvement of more than 95% using the GDI approach. The average power consumption shows a 55.30% and 35.16% reduction when compared to CMOS and PTL respectively. The PDP demonstrates an improvement of more than 95% when compared with conventional CMOS and PTL approaches. The same trend of observation is also achieved for EDP. The variation of the VDD and chirality has a markable effect on the propagation delay and average power consumption. This is a preliminary attempt to evaluate the performance of CNT implementation in MUX. The outcome can become the guideline for engineers working in circuit design using emerging materials for future nanoelectronics applications.
Charting the development of optical CT and allied methods for 3-D radiation dosimetry: 2022 update - mapping the global research community
Authors: Doran Simon
Published: November 2023

To recognise the many and varied contributions from groups around the world over more than 25 years of research into 3-D radiation dosimetry using optical imaging (primarily optical computed tomography), a systematic review has been conducted with the aim of charting the development of this field. Some 493 publications matched the criteria of the review, and these have been coded with information relating to the category of research, the type of dosimeter material used and the geographical location where the research was conducted. The results of the analysis demonstrate a steady growth in the number of academic groups involved, from 4 at the first DOSGEL meeting in 1999 to over 30 in 2016. The important role played by the DOSGEL and IC3Ddose conference series is demonstrated by the marked biennial trend in publications. The division of publications between categories was 36% materials development, 34% scanner technology, 24% applications, 5% review and 1% teaching. The most common application areas were brachytherapy, proton/particle therapy and IMRT/VMAT. Prior to the introduction of PRESAGE® in 2003, polymer gels were the most popular material, whilst radiochromic dosimeters have dominated in recent years. These and other trends are discussed on the basis of the data presented. A brief discussion of the future of the field, including some personal opinions, ends this brief review.
Gel dosimetry: MRI
Authors: Deene Yves De
Published: November 2023

While a vast amount of scientific literature is available on the topic of gel dosimetry with MRI readout, this wealth of information may seem at first overwhelming for medical physicists and newcomers in this rapidly evolving field of research. With this review, my mission is to streamline the wealth of information in the scientific literature and provide a quick guideline for those making their first steps in implementing gel dosimetry in a clinical environment, while still providing a lookout to new and emerging evolutions in the field. In a first section, the physical mechanisms behind the MRI contrast are briefly explained for both Fricke gels and polymer gels. In a subsequent section, an overview is given of the different MRI pulse sequences and pulse sequence optimization will be discussed. Emphasize is placed on the framework and formalism to calculate optimal parameters. The reliability of MRI-based polymer gel dosimetry will be discussed, and a quick beginner’s guide is provided. Finally, a lookout to new and future developments of polymer gel dosimetry will be given.
CT and CBCT imaging of gel dosimeters: a review of the state of the art
Authors: Jirasek A. , Hilts M.
Published: November 2023

This review covers the main developments in x-ray CT-based polymer gel dosimetry (PGD) and more recently on-board cone-beam CT (CBCT) polymer gel dosimetry. Fundamental work as well as clinically-based applications are described and advantages and disadvantages of approaches highlighted. The body of work present within the literature points towards an overall feasibility of CT PGD and increasingly CBCT PGD as viable tools for the verification of highly complex, high dose radiotherapy treatments.
3D dosimetry of proton beams and influences on response
Authors: Ibbott G. , Carroll M.
Published: November 2023

Proton beams offer the ability to conform dose distributions exquisitely to target volumes, allowing radiation oncologists to avoid exceeding tolerance doses to sensitive normal tissues. Several volumetric dosimeters have shown potential in conventional radiotherapy modalities, but suffer from dose under-responding, or signal quenching, in proton therapy. This reduced response has been seen with gels as well as with radiochromic plastics and may result from dependences on dose rate and linear energy transfer (LET). Investigations have shown that the under-response is affected by the chemical concentration of the active components of PRESAGE®, and changes to the composition have been shown to reduce quenching. It is not clear if similar changes can be made to gels. This report reviews studies into the impact of formulation changes on signal quenching, and the degree to which mathematical corrections might still be needed to achieve accurate dosimetry.
Evolution of 3D X-Ray Dose Computation Algorithms
Authors: Battista J. , Chen J. , Sawchuk S. , Hajdok G.
Published: November 2023

Radiation treatment planning of individual cancer patients relies on the accurate computation of dose distributions in irradiated tissue. Inaccurate dose maps have the potential to mislead clinical decision-making and compromise the balance between effective tumour control and side effects in surrounding normal tissue. In the context of this conference, 3D dosimetry is important for the experimental validation of computed dose distributions. Dose computation methods for external beams of high energy x rays have evolved over the past decade with computer simulation models more closely aligned with the fundamental physics of x-ray scattering and absorption in heterogeneous tissue. In this article, we first present a historical review from a Canadian perspective, followed by an introductory intuitive description of contemporary algorithms used in clinical treatment planning: (1) Convolution-superposition algorithm fundamentally based on the Green’s function method; (2) Stochastic Monte Carlo simulation of x-ray interactions in tissue, and (3) Deterministic numerical solution of a system of Boltzmann transport equations. In principle, all these methods solve the same problem of predicting x-ray scattering and absorption in heterogeneous tissue. However, the mathematical tools differ in their approach and approximations to achieve sufficient speed for routine clinical application. In the conclusion of this article, the evolution of 3D x-ray dose computation is summarized, in terms of accuracy and computational speed.
FLASH radiotherapy and the associated dosimetric challenges
Authors: Ceberg S , Mannerberg A , Konradsson E , Blomstedt M , Kügele M , Kadhim M , Edvardsson A , Bäck S Å J , Petersson K , Jamtheim Gustafsson C , Ceberg C
Published: November 2023

At Lund University and Skåne University Hospital in Lund, Sweden, we have, as the first clinic, modified a clinical Elekta Precise linear accelerator for convertible delivery of ultra-high dose rate (FLASH) irradiation. Whereas recently published reviews highlighted the need for standardised protocols for ultra-high dose rate beam dosimetry to be able to determine the true potential of FLASH irradiation, several dosimetry studies as well as in-vitro and in-vivo experiments have been carried out at our unit. Dosimetric procedures for verification of accurate dose delivery of FLASH irradiation to cell cultures, zebrafish embryos and small animals have been established using radiochromic films and thermo-luminescent dosimeters. Also, recently the first experience of electron FLASH radiotherapy (FLASH-RT) in canine patients in our clinical setting was published. Our research facilities also include a laboratory for 3D polymer gel manufacturing. Recently, we started investigating the feasibility of a NIPAM polymer gel dosimeter for ultra-high dose rate dosimetry. Furthermore, in the bunker of the modified Elekta linear accelerator, a Surface Guided Radiotherapy (SGRT) system is accessible. The Catalyst™ system (C-Rad Positioning, Uppsala, Sweden) provides optical surface imaging for patient setup, real-time motion monitoring and breathing adapted treatment. Aiming at treating patients using ultra-high dose rates, a real-time validation of the alignment between the beam and the target is crucial as the dose is delivered in a fraction of a second. Our research group has during the last decade investigated and developed SGRT workflows which improved patient setup and breathing adapted treatment for several cancer patient groups. Recently, we also started investigating the feasibility of a real-time motion monitoring system for surface guided FLASH-RT. Both FLASH related studies; 3D polymer gel dosimetry and surface guided FLASH-RT are to our knowledge the first of their kind. Following an introduction to the field of FLASH and the associated dosimetric challenges, we here aim to present the two ongoing studies including some preliminary results.
The role of standards laboratories in reducing uncertainty in clinical dosimetry: A Canadian perspective
Authors: Renaud J , Muir B , McEwen M
Published: November 2023

As a National Metrology Institute, the National Research Council Canada (NRC) provides confidence in measurement results, and data traceable to SI units. This paper outlines some of the ways that the NRC contributes to reducing measurement uncertainty in clinical medical physics dosimetry. These activities include, (i) the improvement of existing primary standards and traceability for established beam modalities, such as MV photon and electron beams; (ii) improving measurement accuracy for new beam modalities through the development of transportable systems which permit operation at the user’s facility; (iii) contributing to new dosimetry protocols, best practice reports and educational outreach; and (iv) supporting the verification of clinical implementation by offering dosimetry auditing capabilities through coordination with the clinical medical physics community.
Optimization of MRI pulse sequences and gadobutrol-doped polymer gel for real time 4D radiation dosimetry on the MRI-Linac
Authors: Deene Yves De , Mason Daniel
Published: November 2023

Different MRI pulse sequences can be applied to acquire real time dose distributions on an MRI-Linac. The temporal resolution is affected by the MRI pulse sequence type, the MRI pulse sequence parameters and the NMR relaxation-dose response of the polymer gel. To obtain a sufficiently high temporal resolution, it is crucial to optimize the MRI pulse sequence parameters such as TE, TR and flip angle. The optimization goal is to obtain the highest dose resolution within the shortest time frame, i.e. the smallest temporal uncertainty. We here also demonstrate that it is possible to further improve the temporal uncertainty of the polymer gel dosimeter by adding an MRI contrast agent. The optimization of two MRI pulse sequences in combination with a gadobutrol-doped MAGAT polymer gel dosimeter is discussed.
Spatial and Dosimetric accuracy of 3D polymer gel with CBCT readout - Varian HyperArc® SRS implementation
Authors: Kunkyab Tenzin , Hilts Michelle , Jirasek Andrew , Hyde Derek
Published: November 2023

3D polymer gel dosimetry is a promising means to verify complex radiation treatments such as stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), as it provides both 3D dosimetric and spatial information. The purpose of the study is to use a polymer gel read-out with cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) to commission Varian’s HyperArc®-treatment planning and delivery. Three targets (3 cm, 2 cm, 1 cm diameter respectively) were defined on a treatment plan with a maximum dose of 25 Gy, resembling a single isocentre, multiple-lesion SRS plan. Pre- and post-irradiation CBCT images of the gel were obtained for dosimetry analysis. One slice containing two large targets was used to self-calibrate the entire gel volume for dose comparison. We were able to achieve sub-millimeter spatial accuracy and all evaluated gamma criterion (5% 1mm, 3% 1mm, 2% 1 mm were > 95%). In summary, in this study we have demonstrated that CBCT polymer gel dosimetry can be a highly valuable tool for commissioning complex radiation treatment techniques such as SRS.
Modified optical computed tomography scanner for low temperature scanning
Authors: Woolvett Nathaniel , Jordan Kevin
Published: November 2023

Large radiochromic hydrogels, such as ferrous xylenol formulations require several hours to warm from the storage temperature of 278 K to 293 K for optical CT scanning and irradiation. This warm-up time can be avoided if gels are scanned at 278 K, resulting in a more practical 3D dose measurement. In this study a Vista 16 optical CT scanner was modified to allow scanning at 278 K, below the temperature where condensation forms on the aquarium windows. The refractive index matching liquid was first cooled to 276K in order to cool the aquarium as it was filled. The modification involved pumping cool, dry air into the aquarium scanner compartment to provide a positive pressure, preventing condensation on the aquarium windows. A warming rate of 2 K per hour was achieved with passive cooling which relied on the liquid-filled aquarium’s thermal mass. The radiochromic reaction rate decreased with temperature, requiring an increased post-irradiation wait time from 1 hour at 293 K to 1.5 hours at 278 K. In addition, initial sample transmission was greater by avoiding the auto-darkening that occurred as the samples were warmed from 278 K to 293 K over several hours. This increase in transmission resulted in a larger dynamic range for the dosimeter system.
Proof-of-concept of proton and photon measurements for large-area 2D dosimeters utilising optically stimulated luminescence
Authors: Nyemann Jacob S. , Jensen Mads L. , Valdetaro Lia B. , Jensen Morten B. , Turtos Rosana M. , Julsgaard Brian , Petersen Jørgen B. B. , Muren Ludvig P. , Balling Peter
Published: November 2023

Reusable high-resolution 2D dosimeters have a great potential for radiotherapy verification and quality assurance, not least due to the reduced cost and simpler calibration procedures implied by reusability. We have performed proof-of-concept measurements in both photon and proton beams with a reusable 2D dosimeter (5×7 cm2; 1 mm thickness) based on optically stimulated luminescence, using a readout setup scalable to 3D. Our data indicated a strong linear-energy-transfer quenching for this type of dosimeter.
Optimizing the transparency of nano-LiF:Cu/silicone nanocomposites for 3D optically stimulated luminescence dosimetry
Authors: Nielsen Camilla L , Turtos Rosana M , Julsgaard Brian , Muren Ludvig P , Balling Peter
Published: November 2023

Nanoparticles displaying optically stimulated luminescence embedded in a transparent polymer matrix have been proposed as a reusable high-spatial resolution 3D dosimeter. We measured the refractive indices of LiF:Cu nanoparticles and silicone and found a mismatch of 0.03-0.05 for the relevant wavelengths, explaining the transmission loss through 1 cm-sized nanocomposite dosimeters. We propose to bridge the refractive index gap by coating the LiF nanoparticles with a shell of SiO2. Initial studies show successful SiO2 growth, although more work is required to produce core-shell nanoparticles with an optimized refractive index.
Bare spherical gel dosimeter with optical computed tomography scanning
Authors: Moluchi Olivia , Mulligan Matt , Jordan Kevin
Published: November 2023

Radiochromic polyvinyl alcohol-iodide (PVA-I) hydrogel dosimeter with crosslinking by glutaraldehyde (GTA) has been reported. Because of the transparent gel’s mechanical strength, a study to cast samples in spherical shapes was initiated. The bare sample, 47 mm in diameter was mounted on a funnel and held by suction in a custom, 96 mm diameter, cylindrical vessel for 3D optical CT scanning. A solution of the same formulation without GTA provided refractive index matching inside the vessel for optic scanning and eliminated concentration gradients. The gel sphere remained in the vessel after draining the solution for the ‘in-air’ irradiation. A 20 Gy, maximum dose to the gel sphere was delivered by a single, 6 MV, x-ray beam. Comparison of central axis depth doses for the gel reconstruction and Monte Carlo calculation revealed similar results, indicating accurate 3D dosimetry within 1 mm of the gel surface will be possible. The gel recorded slightly greater dose in build-up region and slightly lower dose in the exit hemisphere relative to the calculation.
Lung radiotherapy verification with a 3D printed thorax phantom and an ionisation chamber array
Authors: Kairn T. , Jessen L. , Bodnar J. , Charles P. H. , Crowe S.B.
Published: November 2023

In this study, a 3D printing error inspired the development of a novel method for using a sagittally-sliced 3D printed thorax phantom to perform dosimetric verifications of lung radiotherapy treatment methods using a 2D ionization chamber array. A full-size thorax model was designed for 3D printing with multiple tissue densities including lung and bone and printed as a series of 2.4 cm sagittal slices using a Raise 3D Pro dual nozzle printer (Raise 3D Technologies Inc, Irvine, USA). An error introduced midway through printing resulted in one half of the phantom being printed at unrealistically high densities. A method was therefore devised whereby the entire phantom was used to plan two lung treatments, one conventionally fractionated and one hypo-fractionated, which were then verified via measurements using an Octavius 729 ionisation chamber array (PTW-Freiburg GmbH, Freiburg, Germany) in combination with several correctly-printed slices of the phantom. The measurements allowed dose distributions in planes through the target, adjacent to the target and at the location key of organs at risk to be verified, for both treatment plans. This method has the potential to be adapted for use with other phantoms and other dosimetry arrays to allow efficient evaluation of future treatment techniques.
On the comparison of two NIPAM gel dosimeters with high resolution 3D MRI sequences
Authors: Cinq-Mars M , Jutras J-D , Beaulieu L
Published: November 2023

Polymer gel dosimeters allow the measurement of a dose distribution in 3 dimensions. Irradiation induces polymerization reactions in the long chains of the gel molecules, which is characterized by a change in the transverse relaxation time T2. Gel dosimetry is mainly advantageous for its high resolution, but can also be expensive. The main goal of this project is to compare two normoxic polymer gel recipes made with NIPAM as monomer. The analysis is based on the quality of the images obtained for a fixed MRI scan time and a comparative cost of analysis of each 1L phantom. The ΔT2 maps are obtained by scanning the gels before and after irradiation with 3D sequences and the DESPOT2 technique is used to reconstruct the T2 maps. The phantoms were irradiated with 8 photon beams of 6 MV with a fixed 250 MU, 4 at two opposite sides of the jar (AP-PA configuration), to obtain 4 dose distributions of 4.7 Gy, 8.9 Gy, 13.2 Gy and 17.3 Gy. The SNR is then determined in the ΔT2 maps in function of the dose step and the concentration of NIPAM in the phantom. The first gel phantom is made with 15% NIPAM and has a total cost of $1561.65, including products and MRI scan costs. The SNR obtained for the 4 dose steps are 10.02, 31.18, 45.12 and 37.54. The contrast between the T2 before and after the irradiation in the 4 regions of dose are 0.45, 0.66, 0.78 and 0.85. The second phantom contained 5% NIPAM, cost 1186.85$ and the SNR obtained are 16.80, 27.08, 30.11 and 26.17 and the ΔT2 are of 0.61, 0.75, 0.79 and 0.77 for the 4 dose steps respectively. The comparison of the two recipes has shown that the increase of NIPAM concentration does not allow a significant increase in image quality for MRI. The recipe with 5% of NIPAM has a lower dynamic range but a better sensitivity at lower dose and is less expensive than the one with 15% of NIPAM. The results also show that by increasing the NIPAM concentration 3-fold, the cost of a 1L phantom increases by 30%.
Characterization of a water-based liquid scintillator for use in megavoltage radiotherapy beams
Authors: Bernier-Marceau D. , Cloutier É. , Yeh M. , Gann G. D Orebi , Beaulieu L.
Published: November 2023

The measurement of the dose delivered in radiotherapy treatments is carried out using dosimeters that are often expensive to produce and sometimes toxic to humans and the environment, which leads to more complex and rigorous clinical manipulations. It is in this context that it is necessary to provide new types of scintillators that would no longer have these problems while having properties equivalent to those of human tissues. Thus, the following study presents the performance of a water-based liquid scintillator used at radiotherapy energies. The characteristics studied include the proportionality of the scintillation signal to the dose, the scintillation efficiency at two different energies as well as the identification of the Cherenkov portion of the signal for photon beams of 180 kVp, 6 MV as well as 18 MV. Spectral measurements of the scintillation solution and a solution of distilled water were acquired in order to isolate the contribution of the scintillation signal from the spectrum obtained, and then compared to a commercial scintillator, Ultima Gold. The signal exhibits a linear dose relationship with a correlation coefficient of 0.999 and lower scintillation efficiency than Ultima Gold.
Preliminary commissioning of a prototype solid tank optical CT scanner for 3D radiation dosimetry
Authors: Ogilvy A , Collins S , Guenter M , Huang D , Hare W , Hilts M , Jirasek A
Published: November 2023

Optical computed tomography (CT) is one of the leading modalities for imaging gel dosimeters. In previous research, it was shown that a design could significantly reduce the volume of the refractive index baths that are commonly found in optical CT systems. The proposed scanner has been manufactured and is in process of being commissioned. The rays refract through the system and their paths are estimated using a ray-tracing simulator. Reconstruction is preformed through algebraic reconstruction technique and iterated using the FISTA-TV algorithm. A Sylgard®184 edge phantom was created to commission the scanner’s spatial resolution. The scanner is capable of a 0.929 mm−1 spatial resolution, although the spatial resolution is highly dependent on the number of iterations, and method of processing the edge spread function.
An ultra-low power 10-bit, 50 MSps SAR ADC for multi-channel readout ASICs
Authors: Firlej Mirosław , Fiutowski Tomasz , Idzik Marek , Kulis Szymon , Moroń Jakub , Świentek Krzysztof
Published: November 2023

The design and measurement results of a fast, ultra-low power, small area 10-bit SAR ADC, developed for multi-channel readout systems, in particular for applications in particle physics experiments, are discussed. A prototype ASIC was designed and fabricated in 130 nm CMOS technology and a wide spectrum of static (INL<0.4 LSB, DNL<0.3 LSB) and dynamic (ENOB=9.45) measurements was performed to study and quantify the performance of ADC.
The ADC converts analogue signals with a sampling frequency up to 55 MHz and power consumption below 1 mW.
The ADC works asynchronously, so no external clock is required. The ADC Figure of Merit (FOM) at 50 MHz sampling frequency is 24 fJ/conv.-step, and is the lowest among the State of the Art designs with similar technology and specifications.
Global protection from tropical cyclones by coastal ecosystems—past, present, and under climate change
Authors: Hülsen Sarah , McDonald Robert I , Chaplin-Kramer Rebecca , Bresch David N , Sharp Richard , Worthington Thomas , Kropf Chahan M
Published: November 2023

Coastal ecosystems have the potential to contribute to disaster risk reduction and adaptation to climate change. While previous studies have estimated the value of current coastal ecosystems for reducing coastal risk, there have been relatively few studies that look at changes in ecosystem service provision, in the past and under climate change. We employ the probabilistic, event-based CLImate ADAptation platform (CLIMADA) to quantify the protection from tropical cyclones (TCs) provided by coastal ecosystems, modeling the number of beneficiaries in the past and under future climate change. We also investigate the potential of nature-based solutions (NbS), such as mangrove restoration. We find that currently, one in five (21%) of all people impacted annually by TCs in the global low-elevation coastal zone is within the protection distance of coastal ecosystems. Over the last 30 years, the share of protected people has decreased by approximately 2%, due to ecosystem loss. With climate change, the average annual number of people impacted will increase by 40%. Simultaneously, the proportion of people protected by coastal ecosystems with climate change decreases due to changes in TC distribution (−1%). The importance of current coastal protection, and the potential for increasing protection by NbS, varies widely between countries. While the number of people protected globally only increases slightly with mangrove restoration, the share of people protected in individual countries can increase by up to 39%. Our findings provide a basis for NbS planning and adaptation policy, by highlighting areas which will be crucial for coastal protection services in a world altered by climate change.
Parametric Study on the Stability of Slopes Subjected to Earthquake Forces
Authors: Boruah Partha Pratim , Chakraborty Arunav
Published: November 2023

For thousands of years, engineers have been grappling with slope instability as an issue in geotechnical and geological engineering. Earthquake loading has a great impact in slope stability. The present study is to investigate the impact of various soil properties and slope geometry on FOS in the presence as well as in the absence of seismic loading. Here, pseudo-static methods are used to analyses seismic slope stability under earthquake loading. From parametric studies, present work concluded that the FOS values start to decline drastically with earthquake impact. Moreover, various prediction models have been developed using Multiple Linear Regression (MLR) & Multiple Non-Linear Regression (MNLR) considering all the data. The input data of slope stability estimation consists of the values of soil parameter, slope parameter and earthquake loading parameters. As an output, MLR and MNLR predict FOS values as a function of these parameters. The model is then checked by comparing the results to another ten actual situations. It was found that the predicted FOS using MNLR gives satisfactory results.
Analysis of Strength Parameters of Paving Blocks with inclusion Sea Sand
Authors: Patil Ashwini R. , More Ashok B , Dwivedi Arun Kumar , Abhang Pratik B.
Published: November 2023

Start with the Scarcity of materials in concrete so sand has steadily gained prominence as the most frequent building material used in the construction industry. As the population increases, so does the need for residential and commercial space. The most essential resource for mankind, river sand, is being mined out of riverbeds more frequently. One ton of regular Portland (OPC) cement is produced in India for every tonne of CO2 that is released into the environment. By substituting cementitious materials like fly ash and ground-granulated blast furnace slag for ordinary cement, we can lower the number of greenhouse gases that are emitted into the atmosphere. To create sustainable concrete pavement blocks, this experimental work has been carried out with the use of cementitious elements including fly ash and ground granulated furnace slag (GGBS) as a replacement for cement, and to enhance public transportation, this research is focused on creating paver blocks that contain sea sand as fine aggregate. This experimental investigation was conducted to investigate different sustainable concrete strength properties with 0% sea sand, 50% Sea Sand and 50% M sand, and 100% sea sane used to partially replace the mix proportion. Results of mechanical parameters such as Compressive strength, water absorption, abrasion resistance, and carbonation of these sustainable concrete pavement blocks are presented also a cost analysis of paving blocks was evaluated.
Performance evaluation of HVFA content in cement concrete incorporating filler additives: rheology and mechanical properties
Authors: Kar Saurav , Das Pritha , Mondal Anup Kumar
Published: November 2023

For a better sustainable progressive world, construction industry turned wider gradually. It is well known fact that cement concrete is main component of construction for our modern civilization. Now days, fly ash is used as the most potential replacement material in cement concrete, as production of cement very badly harm our environment. Reports show that one tonne cement produces one tonne carbon dioxide in our environment and responsible for global warming. After successive research work, it is proven that replacement of high volume fly ash (above 50%) which is pozzolanic in material (consists of siliceous and aluminous compounds) in cement paste helps to achieve high strength, porosity, heat of hydration, micro structure as well as very economical and eco-friendly against normal cement paste. This paper mainly highlights on the detailed study of rheological and strength properties of high volume fly ash concrete (50%-70% replacement of cement in various grades of fly ash mixed as per IS standards) in addition with various additives and melamine based admixture. In addition to this, other properties such as consistency, hardening and stiffening, workability, mechanical properties are studied. This overall study include experimental program on various concrete specimen with varied cementitious content along with admixtures.
Effect of Depth of Water and Container Diameter in Seismic Analysis of R. C. Elevated Circular Water Tank
Authors: Jaiprakash Chitte Chetan , Charhate Shrikant , Sangita Mishra S.
Published: November 2023

Safety of water tanks is very important as they are very important life living structures. Tanks shall always be functional for the access to drinking purpose as well as for the requirement of fire fighting in the area of occurrence of earthquake. The study focus on analysis of RC water tank of circular shape in accordance with IS 1893 (Part-2):2014. The analysis of tank is carried out for zones II, III, IV and V and Rocky or Hard Soil, Medium Stiff Soil and Soft Soil conditions in accordance to Indian standard. Further three different depth of water with constant diameter ratios with tank full, half-filled and tank empty condition are considered for analysis. From the analysis, it is found that tank design is governed in full tank condition. Values of seismic horizontal design coefficient in impulsive mode (Ahi) are less than those for convective mode (Ahc), for full tank condition. This is due to lower values of time period in impulsive mode. For the same soil condition, values of Ahi and Ahc increases for higher seismic zone. The values of highest shear and moment at bottom of container are found to be governing in full tank condition as compared with half-filled and empty tank condition.
Influence Of Helical Confinement On Crack Development In RCC Beams
Authors: Abdelbaki Bahaa Tarek Amin Ahmed , Kuckian Sachin , Obaidi Omar Al , Yahia Hussin
Published: November 2023

Structures made of reinforced concrete are susceptible to developing cracks when they are in the path of earthquakes, strong winds, or increased structural loading. It is therefore possible that it will be necessary to manage structural cracking in the Service Limit State to maximise the lifetime and strength of the structural components under any stress. Helical containment is superior to rectangular containment in terms of its ability to strengthen and ductile the Reinforced Concrete (RC) structural member. In the current work, six distinct beams were each subjected to a series of tests to see how they behaved in terms of cracking when subjected to bending loads. Each of these tests used a unique helical pitch space distance. The beams all measured 150 mm by 150 mm and 750 mm in length. They were designed in accordance with the criteria of Euro code 2, with the identical dimensions. Both 50 and 100 mm were used to take the measurement for the helical pitch. The findings indicate that the utilisation of helical elements does influence the cracking behaviour of the beams. The most important finding was that the measurement of the crack’s thickness was slightly reduced when the beams were restricted to a helical zone with a closer spacing between them. The fact that the theoretical crack is longer than the actual crack that was measured experimentally demonstrates that the Euro code 2 standard provides a more accurate forecast as well as a higher factor of safety. This is demonstrated by the fact that the theoretical crack is larger than the actual crack that was measured.
Comparison of Seismic Response of Multi-Storey Building Having Shear Walls Without Opening on STAAD-PRO and ETAB
Authors: Pinaki  , Dwivedi A.K.
Published: November 2023

In India’s main cities, high-rise reinforced concrete residential buildings with more than 15, 16, or 17 stories are widespread these days, which are aligned parallel to the Indian government’s “Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojna”. The development of an economical and eco-friendly R-C building by providing a limited area of shear walls at the diagonal corners of the structure is evaluated in STAAD-PRO and ETAB in this paper. This work also focuses on the location and minimal area of shear walls along with maximum strength, and its 3-D analysis gives conclusions. The paper concludes that the design of 20-story buildings in STAAD and ETAB with minimum shear walls gives safe results, and Horizontal forces increase the structure’s strength and stiffness requirements.
Assessment of groundwater potential zones using an integration of Remote Sensing, GIS and 2D Electrical Resistivity imaging in the Echway watershed, Baro River Basin, Southwest Ethiopia
Authors: Pajock Jamuth , Gunalan Jagadeshan , Jothimani Muralitharan , Abebe Abel
Published: November 2023

The objective of this study is to delineate and identify the groundwater potential zone of degraded land in the Echway watershed, southwest Ethiopia, employing a combined approach that includes 2D electrical resistivity, the analytical hierarchy process (AHP), geographic information systems (GIS) and remote sensing (RS). Using a geographic information system (GIS) and remote sensing data, groundwater potential zones were identified by taking into account the soil types, drainage density, geology, lineament density, Land use and land cover, rainfall and slope. Using the AHP method, calculate the weight of thematic layers and rank of subclasses based on the effects of various thematic layers on groundwater potential. A significant weight was provided on the geology of the research region, total annual rainfall, and lineament density. Due to significant effects on groundwater potential zones, only three of the seven theme levels were assigned significant weight in this analysis. The weighted overlay analysis was used to construct the diagram of the zones with groundwater potential. 2D electrical resistivity was utilized to find the groundwater aquifer, and four major electrical layers were discovered: clayey silt, sand, moderately weathered/fractured rock, and basement parent rock. The groundwater potential zones in the study area have been classified into five categories: very low (22.97%), low (13.43%), moderate (32.50%), high (25.12%), and very high (5.98%) covered, respectively. The groundwater potential zone image was created by combining GIS, remote sensing, AHP, and an electrical survey
Evaluation of the Strength properties of Sarooj based concrete design
Authors: Gharbi Laila Hamis Nasser Al , Kuckian Sachin , Kumar Kiran , Yahia Hussin , Venkata Siva Rama Prasad C.
Published: November 2023

Despite having several negative effects on human life and the environment, cement is the main component of concrete. Carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere as a byproduct of cement production. As a result, cement production must be curtailed to lessen environmental impact. Therefore, it was crucial to find a material that could replace cement but wouldn’t harm people or the environment in the process. When compared to cement, burnt clay (or sarooj) is seen as more eco-friendly because of its similar properties and uses. It was investigated in this study whether sarooj could be used to replace cement in concrete at different percentages (0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, and 40%). Several tests, including a sarooj chemical test, a slump test, a water absorption test, a rebound hammer test, a compressive strength test, and a flexural strength test, were performed on the concrete to ascertain its mechanical qualities. Based on the results, 10% sarooj is the best option because it outperforms 20%, 30%, and 40% in compressive and flexural strength, respectively.
Experimental study on concrete by partial replacement of fine aggregate with steel slag and cement with metakaolin and glass powder
Authors: Sandhyarani E , Srinivasa Rao Ch
Published: November 2023

The present study will describe the characteristics and the effects of concrete properties when fine aggregate is partially substituted by steel slag and cement partially substituted by metakaolin and glass powder at 0%, 10%, 20% and 30. Compressive, tensile, flexural strength, and durability tests were conducted on the cube and cylinder specimens. The test results were compared with conventional concrete specimens. The tests are conducted on specimens for 7days and 28days. Based on the outcomes of the study, it was concluded that replacing cement and fine aggregate with glass powder, metakaolin, and steel slag increases the strength of concrete and reduces attack at 30% replacement. Hopefully, the results have clearly demonstrated the concrete constructions can also be made from eco-friendly alternative materials which are cost-effective and sustainable for longtime.
Comparative Study of Linear Static Analysis of G+10 Storey Building with and Without Shear Wall in ETABS
Authors: Lavanya P , Sridhar P , Manasa V
Published: November 2023

Planning, designing, and execution of high-raise building while taking into account the impact of lateral loads such as wind and seismic loads computation with or without shear wall technology in conventional mode is a crucial task for civil engineers. The lateral loads develop high lateral stresses and sway movement in structural members and need adequate stiffness to resist lateral forces along with sufficient strength against vertical gravity loads. In this case, civil engineers establish an effective system for construction of high raise building with the usage of shear wall system is high in-plane stiffness and torsional resistance. Present the authors are considered a G+10 storey commercial shopping mall with a central cut-out at Bhimavaram location which lies in seismic zone III as, per IS 1893(part 1): 2016. The load cases from IS 875 Part I (dead loads), Part II (imposed loads), and Part III (wind loads) are used to create the load combinations in accordance with IS 456: 2000. Two models, with and without shear wall system are taken for comparing the parameters like storey drift, storey displacement, stiffness, shear force, base shear, bending moment and center of rigidity by performing linear static seismic analysis and wind analysis for both models in ETABS software. The simulations concluded that Shear wall system is the efficient and economical way of resisting lateral loads in high rise or multistory buildings.
Study of the Effect of Installation of Stone Columns on the Stability of Soil Slopes using Finite Element Method
Authors: Goswami A , Deka S
Published: November 2023

There are several ways to mitigate the failure of a soil slope. The installation of stone columns for this purpose, is easy as well as economical. As their strength is greater than that of soil, they disrupt the slip surfaces. Also being more porous, they dissipate the pore pressure generated in the soil in the vicinity of the stone columns to a certain extent. This paper illustrates 2D finite element analyses carried out to simulate the behavior of stone columns in cohesive soil using the computer program PLAXIS. Parametric study was conducted to analyze the effect of number, length and diameter of the stone columns on the Factor of Safety of the soil slope. The F.O.S. of the soil slope was predicted using prediction models created using artificial neural networks (ANN) considering slope geometry like slope angle and height, material properties like cohesion and angle and internal friction of soil as well as granular material used in the columns, and the stone column parameters like the stone column’s number, length, diameter and the centre to centre (c/c) distance between two adjacent columns as input parameters. It was found that introduction of stone columns significantly improved the stability of the soil slopes. Further, it was seen that all the parameters considered in the study influenced the Factor of Safety of the soil slope.
Anti-corrosion and icephobic approach on rose leaf biomimetic surface
Authors: Nguyen Thanh-Binh , Trung Nguyen Thanh , Vinh Nguyen Thanh , Hanh Vu Thi Hong
Published: November 2023

This study proposes a facile method for superhydrophobic and slippery-infused porous surfaces for water repellency and anti-icing purposes. Both adhesion force and time delaying were systematically investigated, showing their strong dependence on surface parameters and slipperiness. The uniform patterns of nanoscale textures inspired by rose leaf structure have been generated on silicon wafers using the plasma etching process. We believe the lower real contact area can play a dual role in the icing mechanism including reducing heat transfer and adhesion force attributed to the projected area. On the other hand, slipperiness plays an important role in reducing adhesion strength and preventing ice nucleation. The slippery superhydrophobic surface demonstrates outstanding in reducing the adhesion strength while documenting several times lower compared to bare Si, superhydrophobic Si, and slippery Si surfaces. In addition, the rational combination facilitates the efficient function after a number of test cycles, illustrating the mechanical anti-corrosion properties. The results lead to understanding the role of the icing process and designing the anti-icing structure.
Effect of Zn/S/TGA concentration on the stability and optical properties of TGA capped ZnS quantum dots synthesized via one pot aqueous synthesis method
Authors: M Sushma , Pasha U Mahaboob , B Jai Kumar , Mahesh H M , Nagaraju G
Published: November 2023

Aqueous ZnS quantum dots (QDs) were synthesised via a facile, cost-effective one-pot synthesis method in the ambient environment. To achieve most favourable ratios of thioglycolic acid (TGA):zinc (Zn):sulphide (S), the concentration optimisation by optical spectra (COOS) method was adopted. The x-ray diffraction (XRD) spectra confirmed the zinc-blende (cubic) phase of ZnS quantum dots (QDs), and Scherrer’s method determined that on average, the QDs exhibit a size of 2 nm. The Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) study shows that characteristic peaks are consistent with the vibrational modes of the TGA ligands, confirming the capping. The quantum dots (QDs) synthesised displayed a significant effect of quantum confinement with blue shift in absorption peaks, compared with bulk ZnS absorption peak. Interestingly, on increasing the concentration of TGA, it resulted in red shift at the absorption edge, shifting from 300 nm to 314 nm. On the other hand, increasing the concentration of cation Zn and anion S ratio led to a blue shift, ranging from 315 to 295 nm, and a red shift, ranging from 280–320 nm, at absorption edges respectively. A prominent emission peak appeared at 428 nm. The application of Brus equation allowed estimating the size of the quantum dots (QDs) to be within the range of 2 to 2.7 nm, which correlated well with the Bohr’s radius of ZnS. This favourable property proposes the use of QDs in various optoelectronic devices.