Dr Rajiv Desai
An Educational Blog
Defossilization
Defossilization: _ The goal of defossilization is to shift material sourcing away from fossil resources (red) to non-fossil resources, including carbon dioxide, biomass, or recyclate (green path) as seen in figure above. _ Section-1 Prologue: The 2026 Iran war—triggered by US-Israeli military strikes and Iran’s retaliatory actions—has sent profound ripple effects across the globe. The conflict has disrupted one of the world’s most vital maritime chokepoints and reshaped international trade. By disrupting and blocking the Strait of Hormuz, the conflict cut off roughly 20% of global oil & liquefied natural gas (LNG) supplies, and 30% of global fertilizer trade. Crude oil prices surged to nearly $100 a barrel, heavily elevating fuel costs for industries and consumers. Fossil fuels—predominantly coal, oil (petroleum), and natural gas—are primarily used to generate electricity, fuel transportation & cooking, provide industrial heating, and manufacture raw materials for plastics and fertilizers. They form the backbone of […]
Electric Vehicle, EV (electric car)
Electric Vehicle, EV (electric car): _ The engine of a conventional internal combustion engine car is replaced by an Electric Motor and the fuel tank is replaced by the Battery Pack. Of all the components only the Battery Pack and Electric Motor alone contributes to about more than 50% of the total EV’s weight and the price. __ Section-1 Prologue: A car can be a wonderful thing. It can take you where you want, when you want — even when those places aren’t served by public transportation. In fact, much of modern life would be impossible without cars. They help us get to our jobs, schools, grocery stores or even just to the local shopping mall. Unfortunately, as wonderful as cars are, they also have some serious drawbacks. Two of these drawbacks are that they often cost a lot of money to maintain and they pollute the […]
OXYGEN THERAPY
Oxygen (O2) Therapy: _____ While we inhale 21% of oxygen and 0.04% of carbon dioxide, we exhale 17% of oxygen and 4% of carbon dioxide. _____ Prologue: Oxygen (O2) is a vital element in human survival and plays a major role in a diverse range of biological and physiological processes. Oxygen therapy means using an oxygen cylinder or a machine to breathe in air that contains more oxygen than normal. Oxygen is widely available and commonly prescribed by medical and paramedical staff. In medical practice, it is among the most universally used agents for the treatment of critical illness and part of the routine treatment in acute shock and emergency medicine. Proper application of oxygen therapy and airway management is lifesaving. In the absence of O2 (hypoxia), cellular respiration ceases and irreversible cellular injury and death occur within minutes. Administered correctly it may be lifesaving. However, renaissance physician Paracelsus noted: […]
COMBAT CLIMATE CHANGE
Combat Climate Change (CCC): ______ A Houston interstate after Hurricane Harvey in August 2017 _______ Prologue: Recently more than 15,000 scientists from 184 countries issued ‘warning to humanity’. The scientists around the world are very concerned about the state of the world, the environmental situation and climate change. Experts say worldwide average temperatures have already risen 1 degree Celsius since pre-industrial times, largely due to carbon emissions from the United States and Europe over the past century. Many countries are already feeling the heat that is enveloping the globe, with dramatic floods, hurricanes and droughts across the world in recent months adding a sense of urgency to the climate talks. On June 1, President Donald Trump announced that the United States will pull out of the Paris Agreement, a 2015 deal to curb carbon emissions, invest in green technology, and take other steps to combat the existential threat of climate […]
PULSE OXIMETRY
PULSE OXIMETRY _____ Prologue: All of us know how important oxygen is for our survival. Hypoxia means low oxygen supply and/or utilization by organ or tissue. Hypoxemia means low oxygen content of arterial blood. Hypoxaemia invariably leads to hypoxia but hypoxia can occur even without hypoxaemia. Arterial blood oxygen saturation is now considered the 5th vital sign, joining: temperature, respiratory rate, heart rate and blood pressure. Hypoxemia can be present before recognizable signs of respiratory distress become evident and the traditional sign of circumoral cyanosis is a late indicator of decreased oxygenation. Blood gas analysis was for many years the only available method of detecting hypoxemia in critically ill patients, but this technique is painful, has potential complications, and does not provide immediate or continuous data. Pulse oximetry is an objective estimation of oxygenation, and it is simple, reliable, and accurate when used appropriately. It has the unique advantage of […]
