119 research outputs found
Disposal Options of Bamboo Fabric-Reinforced Poly(Lactic) Acid Composites for Sustainable Packaging: Biodegradability and Recyclability
The present study was conducted to determine the recyclability and
biodegradability of bamboo fabric-reinforced poly(lactic) acid (BF-PLA) composites for
sustainable packaging. BF-PLA composite was recycled through the granulation, extrusion,
pelletization and injection processes. Subsequently, mechanical properties (tensile, flexural
and impact strength), thermal stability and the morphological appearance of recycled
BF-PLA composites were determined and compared to BF-PLA composite (initial materials)
and virgin PLA. It was observed that the BF-PLA composites had the adequate mechanical
rigidity and thermal stability to be recycled and reused. Moreover, the biodegradability
of BF-PLA composite was evaluated in controlled and real composting conditions, and
the rate of biodegradability of BF-PLA composites was compared to the virgin PLA.
Morphological and thermal characteristics of the biodegradable BF-PLA and virgin PLA
were obtained by using environment scanning electron microscopy (ESEM) and differential
scanning calorimetry (DSC), respectively. The first order decay rate was found to be 0.0278 and 0.0151 day�1 in a controlled composting condition and 0.0008 and 0.0009 day�1 in real composting conditions for virgin PLA and BF-PLA composite, respectively. Results
indicate that the reinforcement of bamboo fabric in PLA matrix minimizes the degradation
rate of BF-PLA composite. Thus, BF-PLA composite has the potential to be used in product
packaging for providing sustainable packaging
Observations of TeV gamma-rays from Mrk 421 during Dec. 2005 to Apr. 2006 with the TACTIC telescope
The TACTIC -ray telescope has observed Mrk 421 on 66 clear nights
from Dec. 07, 2005 to Apr. 30, 2006, totalling 202 hours of on-source
observations. Here, we report the detection of flaring activity from the source
at 1 TeV energy and the time-averaged differential -ray spectrum
in the energy range 1-11 TeV for the data taken between Dec. 27, 2005 to Feb.
07, 2006 when the source was in a relatively higher state as compared to the
rest of the observation period. Analysis of this data spell, comprising about
97h reveals the presence of a -ray signal with
daily flux of 1 Crab unit on several days. A pure power law spectrum with
exponent as well as a power law spectrum with an exponential
cutoff and are found to provide
reasonable fits to the inferred differential spectrum within statistical
uncertainties. We believe that the TeV light curve presented here, for nearly 5
months of extensive coverage, as well as the spectral information at
-ray energies of 5 TeV provide a useful input for other groups
working in the field of -ray astronomy.Comment: 13pages,4figures; Accepted for publication in Astroparticle Physic
Green Composites Made of Bamboo Fabric and Poly (Lactic) Acid for Packaging Applications—A Review
Petroleum based thermoplastics are widely used in a range of applications, particularly in
packaging. However, their usage has resulted in soaring pollutant emissions. Thus, researchers have
been driven to seek environmentally friendly alternative packaging materials which are recyclable
as well as biodegradable. Due to the excellent mechanical properties of natural fibres, they have
been extensively used to reinforce biopolymers to produce biodegradable composites. A detailed
understanding of the properties of such composite materials is vital for assessing their applicability
to various products. The present review discusses several functional properties related to packaging
applications in order to explore the potential of bamboo fibre fabric-poly (lactic) acid composites
for packaging applications. Physical properties, heat deflection temperature, impact resistance,
recyclability and biodegradability are important functional properties of packaging materials. In this
review, we will also comprehensively discuss the chronological events and applications of natural
fibre biopolymer composites
Green Composites Made of Bamboo Fabric and Poly (Lactic) Acid for Packaging Applications—A Review
Petroleum based thermoplastics are widely used in a range of applications, particularly in
packaging. However, their usage has resulted in soaring pollutant emissions. Thus, researchers have
been driven to seek environmentally friendly alternative packaging materials which are recyclable
as well as biodegradable. Due to the excellent mechanical properties of natural fibres, they have
been extensively used to reinforce biopolymers to produce biodegradable composites. A detailed
understanding of the properties of such composite materials is vital for assessing their applicability
to various products. The present review discusses several functional properties related to packaging
applications in order to explore the potential of bamboo fibre fabric-poly (lactic) acid composites
for packaging applications. Physical properties, heat deflection temperature, impact resistance,
recyclability and biodegradability are important functional properties of packaging materials. In this
review, we will also comprehensively discuss the chronological events and applications of natural
fibre biopolymer composites
Enzymatic glyceride synthesis in a foam reactor
We report the results of our study on Rhizomucor miehei lipaseâ catalyzed lauric acidâ glycerol esterification in a foam reactor. A satisfactory yield of glyceride synthesis can be achieved with an unusually high initial water content (50% w/w). We found that product formation could be regulated by controlling foaming. Foaming was a function of the air flow rate, reaction temperature, pH value, ionic strength, and substrate molar ratio. Monolaurin and dilaurin, which constituted nearly 80% of the total yield, were the two dominant products in this reaction; trilaurin was also formed at the initial stages of the reaction. A study of pH and ionic strength effects on an independent basis revealed that they affect the interfacial mechanism in different manners. On varying the ratio of lauric acid and glycerol, only a slight change in the degree of conversion was detected and the consumption rate of fatty acid was approximately the same.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/141443/1/aocs0643.pd
Review of experimental methods to determine spontaneous combustion susceptibility of coal – Indian context
This paper presents a critical review of the different techniques developed to investigate the susceptibility of coal to spontaneous combustion and fire. These methods may be sub-classified into the two following areas: (1) Basic coal characterisation studies (chemical constituents) and their influence on spontaneous combustion susceptibility. (2) Test methods to assess the susceptibility of a coal sample to spontaneous combustion. This is followed by a critical literature review that summarises previous research with special emphasis given to Indian coals
Big GABA II: Water-referenced edited MR spectroscopy at 25 research sites
Accurate and reliable quantification of brain metabolites measured in vivo using 1H magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) is a topic of continued interest. Aside from differences in the basic approach to quantification, the quantification of metabolite data acquired at different sites and on different platforms poses an additional methodological challenge. In this study, spectrally edited γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) MRS data were analyzed and GABA levels were quantified relative to an internal tissue water reference. Data from 284 volunteers scanned across 25 research sites were collected using GABA+ (GABA + co-edited macromolecules (MM)) and MM-suppressed GABA editing. The unsuppressed water signal from the volume of interest was acquired for concentration referencing. Whole-brain T1-weighted structural images were acquired and segmented to determine gray matter, white matter and cerebrospinal fluid voxel tissue fractions. Water-referenced GABA measurements were fully corrected for tissue-dependent signal relaxation and water visibility effects. The cohort-wide coefficient of variation was 17% for the GABA + data and 29% for the MM-suppressed GABA data. The mean within-site coefficient of variation was 10% for the GABA + data and 19% for the MM-suppressed GABA data. Vendor differences contributed 53% to the total variance in the GABA + data, while the remaining variance was attributed to site- (11%) and participant-level (36%) effects. For the MM-suppressed data, 54% of the variance was attributed to site differences, while the remaining 46% was attributed to participant differences. Results from an exploratory analysis suggested that the vendor differences were related to the unsuppressed water signal acquisition. Discounting the observed vendor-specific effects, water-referenced GABA measurements exhibit similar levels of variance to creatine-referenced GABA measurements. It is concluded that quantification using internal tissue water referencing is a viable and reliable method for the quantification of in vivo GABA levels
Mapping child growth failure across low- and middle-income countries
Childhood malnutrition is associated with high morbidity and mortality globally1. Undernourished children are more likely to experience cognitive, physical, and metabolic developmental impairments that can lead to later cardiovascular disease, reduced intellectual ability and school attainment, and reduced economic productivity in adulthood2. Child growth failure (CGF), expressed as stunting, wasting, and underweight in children under five years of age (0�59 months), is a specific subset of undernutrition characterized by insufficient height or weight against age-specific growth reference standards3�5. The prevalence of stunting, wasting, or underweight in children under five is the proportion of children with a height-for-age, weight-for-height, or weight-for-age z-score, respectively, that is more than two standard deviations below the World Health Organization�s median growth reference standards for a healthy population6. Subnational estimates of CGF report substantial heterogeneity within countries, but are available primarily at the first administrative level (for example, states or provinces)7; the uneven geographical distribution of CGF has motivated further calls for assessments that can match the local scale of many public health programmes8. Building from our previous work mapping CGF in Africa9, here we provide the first, to our knowledge, mapped high-spatial-resolution estimates of CGF indicators from 2000 to 2017 across 105 low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where 99 of affected children live1, aggregated to policy-relevant first and second (for example, districts or counties) administrative-level units and national levels. Despite remarkable declines over the study period, many LMICs remain far from the ambitious World Health Organization Global Nutrition Targets to reduce stunting by 40 and wasting to less than 5 by 2025. Large disparities in prevalence and progress exist across and within countries; our maps identify high-prevalence areas even within nations otherwise succeeding in reducing overall CGF prevalence. By highlighting where the highest-need populations reside, these geospatial estimates can support policy-makers in planning interventions that are adapted locally and in efficiently directing resources towards reducing CGF and its health implications. © 2020, The Author(s)
Mapping geographical inequalities in childhood diarrhoeal morbidity and mortality in low-income and middle-income countries, 2000–17 : analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017
Background
Across low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs), one in ten deaths in children younger than 5 years is attributable to diarrhoea. The substantial between-country variation in both diarrhoea incidence and mortality is attributable to interventions that protect children, prevent infection, and treat disease. Identifying subnational regions with the highest burden and mapping associated risk factors can aid in reducing preventable childhood diarrhoea.
Methods
We used Bayesian model-based geostatistics and a geolocated dataset comprising 15 072 746 children younger than 5 years from 466 surveys in 94 LMICs, in combination with findings of the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2017, to estimate posterior distributions of diarrhoea prevalence, incidence, and mortality from 2000 to 2017. From these data, we estimated the burden of diarrhoea at varying subnational levels (termed units) by spatially aggregating draws, and we investigated the drivers of subnational patterns by creating aggregated risk factor estimates.
Findings
The greatest declines in diarrhoeal mortality were seen in south and southeast Asia and South America, where 54·0% (95% uncertainty interval [UI] 38·1–65·8), 17·4% (7·7–28·4), and 59·5% (34·2–86·9) of units, respectively, recorded decreases in deaths from diarrhoea greater than 10%. Although children in much of Africa remain at high risk of death due to diarrhoea, regions with the most deaths were outside Africa, with the highest mortality units located in Pakistan. Indonesia showed the greatest within-country geographical inequality; some regions had mortality rates nearly four times the average country rate. Reductions in mortality were correlated to improvements in water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) or reductions in child growth failure (CGF). Similarly, most high-risk areas had poor WASH, high CGF, or low oral rehydration therapy coverage.
Interpretation
By co-analysing geospatial trends in diarrhoeal burden and its key risk factors, we could assess candidate drivers of subnational death reduction. Further, by doing a counterfactual analysis of the remaining disease burden using key risk factors, we identified potential intervention strategies for vulnerable populations. In view of the demands for limited resources in LMICs, accurately quantifying the burden of diarrhoea and its drivers is important for precision public health
Anemia prevalence in women of reproductive age in low- and middle-income countries between 2000 and 2018
Anemia is a globally widespread condition in women and is associated with reduced economic productivity and increased mortality worldwide. Here we map annual 2000–2018 geospatial estimates of anemia prevalence in women of reproductive age (15–49 years) across 82 low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), stratify anemia by severity and aggregate results to policy-relevant administrative and national levels. Additionally, we provide subnational disparity analyses to provide a comprehensive overview of anemia prevalence inequalities within these countries and predict progress toward the World Health Organization’s Global Nutrition Target (WHO GNT) to reduce anemia by half by 2030. Our results demonstrate widespread moderate improvements in overall anemia prevalence but identify only three LMICs with a high probability of achieving the WHO GNT by 2030 at a national scale, and no LMIC is expected to achieve the target in all their subnational administrative units. Our maps show where large within-country disparities occur, as well as areas likely to fall short of the WHO GNT, offering precision public health tools so that adequate resource allocation and subsequent interventions can be targeted to the most vulnerable populations.Peer reviewe
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