Arthritis of leprosy

An inflammatory polyarthritis has been previously described in leprosy but accounts of the clinical characteristics have varied. All patients with joint symptoms admitted to a leprosy centre over 5 months were examined by a rheumatologist. Of 48 acute admissions, 20 (42%) had a symmetrical polyarthritis affecting the wrists and fingers. This was strikingly similar to RA in appearance. The arthritis occurred exclusively in patients with reactions mainly during anti-mycobacterial treatment. The clinical features of the joint disorder were identical in Type I (associated with alterations in immune status) and Type II (erythema nodosum leprosum) reactions. Synovial tissue from one patient revealed no mycobacteria. Four of five hand X-rays suggested small erosions of the finger joints

Lithium-Ion Supercapacitor Using Vertically-Aligned Carbon Nanotubes From Direct Growth Technique, And Its Electrochemical Characteristics

This paper reports the fabrication of a lithium ion supercapacitor from vertically-aligned carbon nanotubes (VACNTs) directly grown on a conductive substrate (SUS 310S alloy), using alcohol catalytic chemical vapour deposition technique. CNTs direct growth technique on an electrically conducting foil simplifies the electrode assembly, thus reducing the fabrication process, because the foil can directly act as a current collector. With the VACNT direct growth technique, the supercapacitor electrode was easily prepared and assembled with a non-aqueous 1 M LiPF6 electrolyte. Experimental results show that CNTs (multi-walled type structures of good quality) were perpendicularly grown to the substrate. This device demonstrates a specific capacitance of up to 101 F g-1 (at a scan rate of 1 mVs-1), and a high-rate capability, up to a scan rate of 1000 mVs-1. The VACNT electrode electrochemical performance was also measured by galvanostatic charge-discharge and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The effect of free standing CNTs direct growth on the current collector makes insulating binder material unnecessary, thus producing better ion accessibilities to its surface. This also contributes to the good and reliable electrochemical supercapacitor performance

Effect of Dodecylbenzene Sulfonic Acid Dopant Concentrations on the Synthesis of Polyaniline

Modified physicochemical properties of polyaniline (PANI) colloids in response to various polymerization conditions are being made to enhance the electrical conductivity of PANI that can be used in supercapacitor purpose. In this paper, an attempt has been made to improve the mechanical stability of PANI by synthesizing with different concentrations (0.8, 1.65, 2.0, and 2.5 mmol) of dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid (DBSA). The DBSA doped PANI colloids were characterized by using XRD, Raman spectra and SEM. PANI containing 2.0 mmol of DBSA has the highest percentage of crystallinity (Xc %) as analyzed from XRD spectrum. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) has been used to investigate the influence of the feed concentration of DBSA on the morphology of the polymer.  A detailed study on the  Raman spectroscopies of PANI-DBSA colloids has been carried out  which shows that intensity of RAMAN spectra are directly proportional to the increased crystallized region of doped PANI samples; higher intensity may attribute due to the large change in polarization associated with the formation of covalent bond in PANI

Effect of Dodecylbenzene Sulfonic Acid Dopant Concentrations on the Synthesis of Polyaniline

Modified physicochemical properties of polyaniline (PANI) colloids in response to various polymerization conditions are being made to enhance the electrical conductivity of PANI that can be used in supercapacitor purpose. In this paper, an attempt has been made to improve the mechanical stability of PANI by synthesizing with different concentrations (0.8, 1.65, 2.0, and 2.5 mmol) of dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid (DBSA). The DBSA doped PANI colloids were characterized by using XRD, Raman spectra and SEM. PANI containing 2.0 mmol of DBSA has the highest percentage of crystallinity (Xc %) as analyzed from XRD spectrum. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) has been used to investigate the influence of the feed concentration of DBSA on the morphology of the polymer.  A detailed study on the  Raman spectroscopies of PANI-DBSA colloids has been carried out  which shows that intensity of RAMAN spectra are directly proportional to the increased crystallized region of doped PANI samples; higher intensity may attribute due to the large change in polarization associated with the formation of covalent bond in PANI

EFFECTS OF FILLER HYBRIDIZATION ON THE MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF NR/SBR/EPDM RUBBER BLENDS

Hybridization of active fillers is one of the techniques utilized to enhance rubber properties. This study highlights the effects of filler hybridization on the mechanical properties of an industrial applied natural rubber/styrene butadiene rubber/ethylene propylene diene terpolymer (NR/SBR/EPDM) Rubber Mat compound reinforced by non-black fillers. Initially, three different rubber compounds were prepared; i) calcium carbonate (CaCO3)-filled NR [CaCO3NR] as reference sample, ii) precipitated silica (PSi)-filled NR/SBR/EPDM [PSiBR], and iii) calcined clay (ClCy)-filled NR/SBR/EPDM [ClCyBR]. From these compounds, composites of NR/SBR/EPDM were prepared. The ratio of PSi:ClCy was varied to study the effects of filler hybridization. CaCO3 was added for cost advantage industrially and its level was fixed. It was found that inclusions of ClCy and PSi individually and their hybridizations show higher tensile and tear strengths than the reference sample. Particularly, the largest improvement was found with the amount of ClCy which is higher than PSi. A ratio of PSi:ClCy in this particular range (1:2 to 2:3), seems to provide the optimum packing factor for good interaction between the fillers. SEM analysis suggests that better dispersion and packing of fillers due to size and shape of hybrid fillers play an important role in improving the composite properties

Population assessment of the endangered Western Hoolock Gibbon Hoolock hoolock Harlan, 1834 at Sheikh Jamal Inani National Park, Bangladesh, and conservation significance of this site for threatened wildlife species

Sheikh Jamal Inani National Park (Inani) is a wildlife habitat in Bangladesh located under the Cox’s Bazar South Forest Division, Cox’s Bazar. It constitutes significant habitat for the charismatic and globally ‘Endangered’ Western Hoolock Gibbon Hoolock hoolockin Bangladesh. Here, we show that Inani is a poorly-known gibbon habitat with a population of seven groups, comprising a total of 18 individuals. Among them, 77.8% were adults (males and females), and 11.1%, 5.6%, and 5.6% were sub-adults, juveniles, and infants, respectively, indicating low reproductive output. Five of seven groups had no offspring present in the group, and the mean group size of 2.57 individuals/group is low compared to other habitats in Bangladesh. Beside Western Hoolock Gibbon, Inani is home to many threatened wildlife species. The first record of the Slaty-backed Flycatcher Ficedula erithacus in Bangladesh occurred in Inani, adding this new species to the national bird checklist of Bangladesh. The presence of the globally ‘Endangered’ Asian Elephant Elephas maximus, Phayre’s Langur Trachypithecus phayrei, & Elongated Tortoise Indotestudo elongata and the globally ‘Vulnerable’ Northern Pig-tailed Macaque Macaca leonina, Capped Langur Trachypithecus pileatus, Indian Leopard Panthera pardus, & Asiatic Softshell Turtle Amyda cartilaginea highlight the importance of Inani as a conservation area in Bangladesh. The Western Hoolock Gibbon and other threatened wildlife of Inani are now on the verge of local extinction due to a sharp increase in forest resource extraction resulting from the recent influx of large numbers of Rohingya refugees from Myanmar, many of whom have settled around Inani. Through stakeholder interviews in the area, we have identified feasible and measurable conservation actions at Inani that are urgently needed to prevent further loss of wildlife and to protect this important gibbon habitat

Water-Repellent Improvement of Green Composite Sheet Surface by Hydrophobic Modified-Silica Coating

The phenomenon of hydrophobic surface (contact angle of a water droplet exceeding 90°) has attracted a considerable research interest from academia and industry. Current studies have unveiled the fact that the hydrophobicity of a solid surface is governed by surface free energy and surface roughness. To date, many methods have been proposed for fabricating hydrophobic surfaces. In this paper, a facile, low cost, and time-saving approach for the improvement of water-repellent property of durian peel composite sheet surface is studied. A unique mixture of hydrophobic modified-silica particles and polystyrene was synthesised and applied onto the composite sheet via dip coating method. The hydrophobic property was characterised using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and water contact angle meter. Results show that a water repellent surface with a contact angle of 143.90° was generated, which is nearly superhydrophobic. This method could be an effective strategy for producing hydrophobic surfaces for promising potential applications in water repellency, self-cleaning, friction reduction, and antifouling