New water-based copolymer nanoparticles and their use as eco-friendly binders for industry of flexographic ink, part I

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to prepare, characterise and evaluate nano-emulsions of copolymers of various compositions as eco-friendly binders for flexographic ink industry. Design/methodology/approach: Various nano-emulsions of copolymers were prepared using styrene (St), butyl acrylate (BuAc), acrylic acid (AA) and acrylamide (AAm) monomers by means of a conventional seeded emulsion polymerisation technique, using K2S2O8 as the initiator. The characterisation of the prepared emulsions was performed using Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), gel permeation chromatography (GPC) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). A selection of copolymers was formulated with pigments and additional ingredients, as water-based flexographic inks. The inks were characterised for their viscosity, pH, degree of dispersion, water resistance and colour density. Findings: It was found that the low viscosity of the prepared copolymers may reduce the film thickness of the flexographic inks and may also increase the spreading of the ink on the surface. As a result, stable modified polyacrylate-based latex with improved physico-mechanical properties were obtained. The prepared latexes were showed improving and enhancing in water resistance; gloss values, and the print density that ranged from 2.06 to 2.51 and the maximum gloss values (39 and 48) were also obtained. Also, these binders provide excellent adhesion properties for both the pigment particles and the base paper. Practical implications: This study focuses on the preparation of new water-based copolymer nanoparticles and their use as eco-friendly binders for flexographic ink industry. Social implications: The ink formulations developed could find use in industrial-scale printing. Originality/value: Eco-friendly environment ink formulations for printing on paper substrates are novel

Adult sex identification using digital radiographs of the proximal epiphysis of the femur at Suez Canal University Hospital in Ismailia, Egypt

AbstractSex identification is an important step toward establishing identity from unknown human remains. The study was performed to test accuracy of sex identification using digital radiography of proximal epiphysis of femur among known cross-sectional population at Suez Canal region. Seventy-two radiographs of femur of living non-pathologic individuals were included. Original sample was divided into two equal groups of females and males (24 each). Test sample (group 3) included 24 radiographs. Six landmarks (A–F) were selected and 15 distances were generated representing all possible combinations of these landmarks. A is a point on the shaft under lower end of lesser trochanter, B is a point on the shaft. A–B is perpendicular to the axis of the shaft. C and D are points on femoral neck. E and F are points on femoral head. In original sample, mean and standard deviation were calculated, then accuracy, sensitivity and specificity. In test sample, the 15 distances were used to identify sex of that radiograph according to the cut-off value made from original sample.In original sample, CE and EF were most distinctive measurements for sexual dimorphism. AB and CF showed least accuracy (66.7% and 70.8%). BF, CE and EF were most sensitive for identification.In test sample, CE and EF showed 100% accuracy. AB and CF showed least accuracy (54.2% and 62.5%). AC, AE, BC, BE, BF, CE and EF were most sensitive for identification.Digital radiography of femur can be an alternative measurement used in sex identification in Egyptian population

The Role of Acid Sites in the Catalytic Performance of Tungsten Oxide during the Dehydration of Isopropyl and Methyl Alcohols

Abstract WO 3 catalyst was prepared by thermal decomposition of ammonium metatungstate (AMT) in a static air atmosphere for 3h at 450, 550, 650 and 750 o C. The techniques employed for characterization of the catalyst were TG, DTA, XRD, FTIR, N 2 -sorption measurements. The surface acidity of the catalyst was investigated by adsorption of pyridine and 2, 6-dimethyl pyridine. The catalytic properties of the catalyst were carried out for the dehydration of isopropyl and methyl alcohols. The results revealed that WO 3 is more active toward isopropanol dehydration than methanol dehydration. Also reflect that the reaction mechanism and the yield of propene and dimethyl ether produced from dehydration of isopropyl and methyl alcohols are controlled by the strength of acid sites

Subclinical hypothyroidism among Egyptian children with systemic lupus erythematosus

Background: Thyroid autoimmune diseases have been associated with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism are seen, but hypothyroidism is the most common abnormality. Subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) has been reported among adult lupus patients. SCH is not without risk as it might contribute to a proatherogenic state. Objectives: This study was aimed to assess the frequency of SCH in a group of Egyptian children with SLE and its effects on the serum lipids. Methods: Forty patients with pediatric SLE who regularly follow up at our center were enrolled in this study. They were subjected to routine laboratory investigations of SLE and measurement of serum lipids (serum triglycerides, cholesterol, LDL and HDL) as well as free thyroxine (T4), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and anti-thyroperoxidase antibody (anti-TPO-ab) titre. SLE activity was assessed using the systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity index (SLEDAI). Results: Six patients (15%) were found to have SCH while the remaining 34 patients (85%) had normal thyroid function. Anti-TPO-abs were positive in 4 out of the 6 (66.6 %) SLE patients with SCH and in 20 out of the 34 (58.8%) SLE patients with normal thyroid function. In SLE patients with SCH, TSH correlated positively yet insignificantly with anti-TPO-ab titre and the duration of SLE (p = 0.17, p = 0.12, respectively). There were no statistically significant correlations between the serum lipids of SLE patients with SCH and their thyroid function or anti-TPO-ab titre. Conclusion: SCH is not uncommon among children with SLE. This SCH does not seem to affect serum lipids. However, further longitudinal studies on wider scales are needed to assess the long term effects of SCH in those patients.Keywords: SLE, anti-thyroperoxidase antibodies, subclinical hypothyroidismEgypt J Pediatr Allergy Immunol 2011;9(2):87-9

Mycobacterial CYP121 as a target for anti-TB drug discovery

Despite the introduction of the first line treatment regimen forty years ago and the continuous trials since that time to introduce new regimens, tuberculosis (TB) is considered to be the cause of considerable mortality worldwide. Recent research highlighted the Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb)CYP450s as potential drug targets. This article reviews mycobacterial CYP121 as a target for anti-TB drug discovery

Seasonal Abundance and the Efficiency of Yeast Liquid Culture (Candida tropicalis) as Bait for Capturing the Oriental Wasps (Vespa orientalis L.) Under Egyptian Environment

Abstract: Seasonal abundance and the efficiency of liquid culture of yeast (Candida tropicalis) as bait to capture the oriental wasps (Vespa orientalis L.), were studied at Dirut location, Assiut governorate during 2003 seasons. The oriental wasps started to appear in the first week of April and gradually decreased to the minimum levels during June (late spring) and July (earlier summer). Then, the activity of wasps increased gradually from the second week of August to the fourth week of September. Total numbers of wasps reached the highest values in October followed by September and November and then the number of oriental wasps decreased until disappeared at the fourth week of December. The modified traps recommended by Ministry of Agriculture were baited with 100% of 1.26×10 5 freshly prepared yeast liquid culture (Candida tropicalis) captured the highest mean numbers of oriental wasps after 24 hr. and 7 days during the active period of wasps (September, October and November). Using liquid yeast culture at 25% concentration recorded the lowest mean numbers of wasps captured in the traps

Sinteza i antimikrobno djelovanje derivata nafto[2,1-b]pirano[2,3-d]pirimidina i pirano[3,2-e][1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-c]pirimidina

Several novel naphtho[2,1-b]pyrano[2,3-d]pyrimidines, pyrano[3,2-e][1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-c]pyrimidines and their coumarin-3-yl derivatives were synthesized. Some of these derivatives exhibited pronounced antimicrobial activities.Sintetizirano je nekoliko novih nafto[2,1-b]pirano[2,3-d]pirimidina, pirano[3,2-e][1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-c]pirimidina i njihovih kumarin-3-il derivata. Neki od njih imaju izraženo antimikrobno djelovanje

L-karnitin ublažava hepatotoksičnost bisfenola A aktiviranjem Nrf2 i inhibicijom proupalne ekspresije gena citokina u štakora

Bisphenol, used in many polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins industries, exerts toxic effects on mammalian organs. The mechanisms underlying bisphenol toxicity are well understood, however the chemoprevention effects of L-carnitine have not yet been recorded. This study aimed to explore the protective mechanism of L-carnitine against BPA-induced hepatotoxicity. Male rats were randomly distributed into 4 groups of 10 rats each: vehicle (5 mL corn oil/kg), bisphenol (50 mg/kg b.w. orally), L-carnitine (500 mg/kg b.w. i/p), and L-carnitine bisphenol pre-treated groups. Bisphenol was dissolved in corn oil and gavaged for 70 consecutive days. Up-regulation of tumor necrosis factor (6.6-fold), and interleukin 6 (3.2-fold) mRNA transcript, along with suppression of nuclear factor erythroid 2-like 2 (0.4-fold), were recorded, following bisphenol administration. Subsequently, bisphenol provoked oxidative stress and attenuated the antioxidative molecules. Finally, hepatic dysfunction was assessed by elevated serum aminotransferases, alkaline phosphatase, lactate dehydrogenase, glutamyl transferase activities and ammonia levels, with the subsequent decline in serum albumin concentration, which confirmed the inflammatory cell infiltration and hydropic degeneration, and the impairment of lipid profile. Interestingly, co-administration of L-carnitine improved liver function and lipid profile, which was explained by the activation of nuclear factor erythroid 2-like 2 (1.5-fold) mRNA transcript, which augmented the antioxidant levels and suppressed oxidative stress, tumor necrosis factor (2.6- fold), and interleukin 6 (1.5-fold) gene expression. In conclusion, L-carnitine exerted hepatoprotective activity against bisphenol toxicity via antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.Bisfenol, koji se koristi u mnogim industrijama polikarbonatne plastike i epoksidnih smola, ima toksične učinke na organe sisavaca. Mehanizmi na kojima se temelji toksičnost bisfenola dobro su razumljivi, međutim učinci L-karnitina na kemoprevenciju još nisu zabilježeni. Cilj ovog ispitivanja bio je istražiti zaštitni mehanizam L-karnitina protiv hepatotoksičnosti izazvane BPA-om. Mužjaci štakora slučajnim su odabirom podijeljeni u su u 4 skupine od po 10 štakora: kontrolna skupina (5 mL kukuruznog ulja/kg tjelesne težine), duga skupina (50 mg bisfenol/kg tjelesne težine peroralno), teća skupina (500 mg L-karnitin/kg tjelesne težine i/p) i četvrta skupina (L-karnitin apliciran skupini prethodno tretiranoj bisfenolom). Bisfenol je otopljen u kukuruznom ulju kojim su štakori hranjeni 70 uzastopnih dana. Nakon primjene bisfenola zabilježeno je povećanje mRNK transkripta za stvarnje faktora tumorske nekroze i interleukina 6 uz supresiju nukleotidnog faktora sličnog eritroidu 2, povezanog s faktorom 2. Nakon toga bisfenol je izazvao oksidativni stres i oslabio antioksidativne molekule. Naposljetku, disfunkcija jetre procjenjivana je povišenim razinama aminotransferaza u serumu, alkalne fosfataze, laktat dehidrogenaze, aktivnosti glutamiltransferaze i amonijaka, uz naknadno smanjenje koncentracije serumskog albumina, što je potvrdilo infiltraciju upalnih stanica i hidropičnu degeneraciju, te narušavanje lipidnog statusa. Zanimljivo je da je istodobna primjena L-karnitina poboljšala funkciju jetre i lipidni status, što je objašnjeno aktivacijom transkripta mRNK tipa 2 povezanog s faktorom 2, koji je povećao razine antioksidansa i potisnuo oksidativni stres, te ekspresiju gena faktora tumorske nekroze i interleukina 6. Zaključno, L-karnitin je pokazao hepatozaštitnu aktivnost protiv toksičnosti bisfenola antioksidativnim i protuupalnim učincima

Optimization of microbial biomass production as biocontrol agent against root knot nematode on faba plants

Abstract: Our objective was to optimize nutritional and environmental conditions of the isolated Serratia marcescens Ba-2 and Pseudomonas fluorescens Ba-11 for biomass production and to evaluate the bio-control agents against the root knot disease caused by Meloidogyne incognita on Faba bean plants under greenhouse conditions. Glycerol at 10.2 g/L and peptone as a nitrogen source were the most suitable for biomass and antagonistic efficiency of S. marcescens or P. fluorescens against Meloidogyne sp. Cultures of S. marcescens and P. fluorescens supplemented with 10 g/L peptone, reduced larvae to 91% and 95% respectively. Optimum biomass and antagonistic activity of either bacteria against larvae was at pH 7.6, and incubation temperature at 30 o C. 100% reduction of larval density was achieved when S. marcescens or P. fluorescens cultures were shaken at 120 and 160 rpm respectively. S. marcescens and P. fluorescens were very effective as biocontrol agaents to reduce the rootknot nematodes. Our data also indicate a marked effect of the biocontrol agents and Rhizobia on the growth response of faba plants. The obtained results showed that both bacterial treatments significantly increased the growth parameters as well as shoot and root dry weights and number of pods

New modified poly(ester amide) resins and their uses as a binder for surface coating with different applications

This paper aims to prepare a new modified poly(ester amide) (PEA) resins and use it as a binder for anticorrosive and antimicrobial coatings. Design/methodology/approach New modified PEA compositions were prepared based on 4-amino-N, N-bis(2-hydroxyethyl) benzamide (AHEB) as the ingredient source of the polyol used and evaluated as vehicles for surface coating. The structure of the modifier and PEA resin was confirmed by FT-IR, H¹-NMR, MW, thermogravimetric analysis and scanning electron microscope studies. Coatings of 50±5 µm thickness were applied to the surface of glass panels and mild steel strips by means of a brush. The coating performance of the resins was evaluated using international standard test methods and involved the measurement of phyisco-mechanical properties and chemical resistance. Findings The tests carried out revealed that the modified PEA based on AHEB enhanced both phyisco-mechanical and chemical properties. Also, the resins were incorporated within primer formulations and evaluated as anti-corrosive and antimicrobial single coatings. The results illustrate that the introduction of AHEB, within the resin structure, improved the film performance and enhances the corrosion resistance and antimicrobial activity performance of PEA resins. Practical implications The modified PEA compounds can be used as binders in paint formulations to improve the chemical, physical, corrosion resistance and antimicrobial activity properties. Originality/value Modified PEA resins are cheaper and can be used to replace other more expensive binders. These modified PEA resins can compensate successfully for the presence of many the anticorrosive and antimicrobial paint formulations, and thus, lower the costs. The main advantage of these binders is that they combine the properties of both polyester and polyamide resins based on nitrogenous compound, are of lower cost and they also overcome the disadvantages of both its counterparts. Also, they can be applied in other industrial applications