Cooperative action of cellulase enzyme and carboxymethyl cellulose on cotton fabric cleanability from a topographical standpoint

In this study, the effect of cotton treatment with cellulose and carboxymethyl cellulose on soil release of three different types of fabric: woven plain, woven twill and knitted were systematically studied. A recent study of the effect of a cleaning cellulase enzyme on cellulose films has proven that this substance selectively attacks amorphous cellulose regions, consisting of small hills in a matrix of flat crystalline regions. According to our previous investigations, where carboxymethyl cellulose is present in the formula, the enzyme seems to drive soil release performance. However, the mechanism has not yet been sufficiently studied from the topographical standpoint. In the present study, topographical changes caused by the treatment with cleaning cellulase enzyme and carboxymethyl cellulose on the fabrics by conditioning while washing were analysed on three different length scales in order to interpret their cooperation on water and oil absorption mechanisms and, hence, on cleanability of cotton fabrics stained with liquid–solid, liquid and solid soils

Polyester textile functionalization through incorporation of pH/thermo-responsive microgels. Part II: polyester functionalization and characterization

A new approach to functionalize the surface of polyester textiles is described in this study. Functionalization was achieved by incorporating pH/temperature-responsive polyelectrolyte microgels into the textile surface layer using UV irradiation. The aim of functionalization was to regulate polyester wettability according to ambient conditions by imparting stimuli-responsiveness from the microgel to the textile itself. Microgels consisted of pH/thermo-responsive microparticles of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-acrylic acid) either alone or complexed with the pH-responsive natural polysaccharide chitosan. Scanning Electron Microscopy, X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy, ζ-potential measurements, and topographical analysis were used for surface characterization. Wettability of polyester textiles was assessed by dynamic wetting, water vapor transfer, and moisture regain measurements. One of the main findings showed that the polyester surface was rendered pH-responsive, both in acidic and alkaline pH region, owing to the microgel incorporation. With a marked relaxation in their structure and an increase in their microporosity, the functionalized textiles exhibited higher water vapor transfer rates both at 20 and 40 °C, and 65% relative humidity compared with the reference polyester. Also, at 40 °C, i.e., above the microgel Lower Critical Solution Temperature, the functionalized polyester textiles had lower moisture regains than the reference. Finally, the type of the incorporated microgel affected significantly the polyester total absorption times, with an up to 300% increase in one case and an up to 80% decrease in another case. These findings are promising for the development of functional textile materials with possible applications in biotechnology, technical, and protective clothin

Sicherung von Dämmen, Deichen und Stauanlagen : Handbuch für Theorie und Praxis ; Vol. V - 2015

Die Universität Siegen beschäftigt sich seit über 15 Jahren wissenschaftlich und im Bereich der anwendungsorientierten Forschung mit diesem Thema und hat dazu mittlerweile fünf Symposien durchgeführt. Mit der Veröffentlichung soll die langjährige Tradition als etablierte wissenschaftliche Plattform mit einem Wissensaustausch auf europäischer Ebene fortgesetzt werden. Die Bearbeitung dieser Thematik erfolgt auf der Basis der bewährten Kooperation zwischen Geotechnik und Wasserbau an der Universität Siegen. Aktuelle Ereignisse, wie z.B. die aus England oder Australien im Februar des Jahres 2014, machen uns aber auch deutlich, dass ein absoluter Schutz gegen Extremereignisse nicht möglich ist. Sie zeigen aber auch, dass dort wo technischer Hochwasserschutz konsequent umgesetzt wurde Schäden vermieden werden konnten. Wir sind nach den Ereignissen in den vergangenen Jahren aufgefordert wissenschaftlich noch leistungsfähigere und duktilere Systeme zu entwickeln. Weiter ist die Wissenschaft in der Pflicht, die Zivile Sicherheit im Hochwasser-schutz permanent zu bewerten, zu bearbeiten und ganzheitliche-interdisziplinäre und länderübergreifende Lösungen für die Zivilgesellschaft einzufordern

Alcohol attributable burden of incidence of cancer in eight European countries based on results from prospective cohort study

Objective To compute the burden of cancer attributable to current and former alcohol consumption in eight European countries based on direct relative risk estimates from a cohort study

Fulminant mediastinitis after goiter recurrence surgery: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Necrotizing soft tissue infection is a life-threatening disease characterized by rapid progressive inflammation and necrosis of the subcutaneous and deep fascia with or without involvement of the adjacent muscles.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>We report the case of a 62-year-old Caucasian woman with goiter recurrence who underwent a right-sided hemithyroidectomy. Postoperatively, she developed fulminant mediastinitis caused by group A β-hemolytic streptococcus and septic shock. Our patient survived this rare life-threatening complication.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Initial atypical postoperative symptoms, such as personality changes or an unstable circulatory system, should lead a practitioner to consider the possibility of this severe complication and to begin therapy immediately.</p

On the Ischnosoma fauna of Georgia (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Tachyporinae)

Drei sehr wahrscheinlich endemische Arten aus der Ischnosoma spelaeum-Gruppe werden beschrieben und abgebildet: Ischnosoma acutum spec. nov. (Georgien: Svaneti, Racha); I. barbigerum spec. nov. (Georgien: Svaneti); I. molle spec. nov. (Georgien: Adjara). Typenmaterial von I. major (Luze, 1901) und I. caucasicum Kocian, 1997 wird revidiert. Weitere Nachweise beschriebener Arten der Gattung Ischnosoma Stephens, 1829 werden aus Georgien, teilweise auch aus benachbarten Regionen gemeldet. Die Gattung ist derzeit in Georgien mit insgesamt sieben sicher nachgewiesenen Arten vertreten, davon zwei weit verbreitete Arten aus der I. pictum-Gruppe und fünf endemische Arten aus der I. spelaeum-Gruppe. Das Vorkommen einer einer weiteren Art der I. spelaeum-Gruppe, I. caucasicum, ist zweifelhaft. Die Verbreitungsgebiete der Arten der I. spelaeum-Gruppe werden revidiert und anhand von Karten illustriert. Eine Reihe von Literaturnachweisen ist zoogeographisch nicht plausibel; offensichtlich handelt es sich um Falschmeldungen. Nomenklatorische Handlungen Ischnosoma acutum spec. nov. – urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:62214E44-BF50-4608-95B5-BDDA2B0936FC Ischnosoma barbigerum spec. nov. – urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:314DE8C9-E254-4171-A502-F710E896BCFD Ischnosoma molle spec. nov. – urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:75E5A095-ACCC-4862-877D-76464BA33ABEThree species of the Ischnosoma spelaeum group are described and illustrated, all of them most likely with very restricted distributions: Ischnosoma acutum spec. nov. (Georgia: Svaneti, Racha); I. barbigerum spec. nov. (Georgia: Svaneti); I. molle spec. nov. (Georgia: Adjara). Type material of I. major (Luze, 1901) and I. caucasicum Kocian, 1997 is revised. Additional records of previously described species of Ischnosoma Stephens, 1829 are reported from Georgia, partly also from other regions. Seven species of the genus have reliably been recorded from Georgia, two species of the I. pictum group and widespread, five of the I. spelaeum group and with restricted distributions. The presence of an additional species of the I. spelaeum group, I. caucasicum, requires confirmation. The distributions of the species of the I. spelaeum group are revised and mapped. Several previous literature records are zoogeographically implausible and consequently probably erroneous. Nomenclatural Acts Ischnosoma acutum spec. nov. – urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:62214E44-BF50-4608-95B5-BDDA2B0936FC Ischnosoma barbigerum spec. nov. – urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:314DE8C9-E254-4171-A502-F710E896BCFD Ischnosoma molle spec. nov. – urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:75E5A095-ACCC-4862-877D-76464BA33AB

The Role of lncRNAs TAPIR-1 and -2 as Diagnostic Markers and Potential Therapeutic Targets in Prostate Cancer

In search of new biomarkers suitable for the diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer, genome-wide transcriptome sequencing was carried out with tissue specimens from 40 prostate cancer (PCa) and 8 benign prostate hyperplasia patients. We identified two intergenic long non-coding transcripts, located in close genomic proximity, which are highly expressed in PCa. Microarray studies on a larger cohort comprising 155 patients showed a profound diagnostic potential of these transcripts (AUC~0.94), which we designated as tumor associated prostate cancer increased lncRNA (TAPIR-1 and -2). To test their therapeutic potential, knockdown experiments with siRNA were carried out. The knockdown caused an increase in the p53/TP53 tumor suppressor protein level followed by downregulation of a large number of cell cycle- and DNA-damage repair key regulators. Furthermore, in radiation therapy resistant tumor cells, the knockdown leads to a renewed sensitization of these cells to radiation treatment. Accordingly, in a preclinical PCa xenograft model in mice, the systemic application of nanoparticles loaded with siRNA targeting TAPIR-1 significantly reduced tumor growth. These findings point to a crucial role of TAPIR-1 and -2 in PCa

Surface roughness and wettability of wool fabrics loaded with silver nanoparticles: Influence of synthesis and application methods

Hydrophilization of wool fabrics was performed by silver nanoparticles with different surface charge using three different methods: exhausting, pad–dry–cure and in situ synthesis. Dynamic wetting measurements and surface topography analysis were used to evaluate surface changes on wool fabrics. The wool samples in situ loaded revealed the highest fabric roughness and porosity, while the use of the pad–dry–cure method leads to the lowest fabric porosity, and its roughness values approximately were the same as those for samples loaded with the exhaustion method. The results revealed that loading silver nanoparticles with high surface charges onto wool fabrics via the exhaustion method can significantly improve the hydrophilicity of wool fibre surface. The possible reasons for this improvement are discussed

Welfare Effects of Union Bargaining Centralisation in a Two-Sector Economy

The paper analyses the welfare effects of union bargaining centralisation in a simple general equilibrium model. A two-sector model is developed where the wage rate in the first sector is either set decentralised by a small union at the firm level or centralised by a large union covering all workers. Worker's outside option is employment in the second sector with wages adjusting to clear the market. The paper shows that social welfare depends on (i) whether the union considers the connection between wages in both sectors, (ii) the structure of the union's objective function, and (iii) the elasticities of labour demand. The welfare maximising employment allocation can be obtained under a high degree of centralisation if the union maximises the total wage-bill. Otherwise, if the union is rent maximising, neither centralised nor decentralised wage setting yield the social optimum. A second best optimum can then be obtained under decentralised bargaining