23 research outputs found
Seroprevalence pattern among blood donors in a tertiary health care center
Although blood transfusion is a life-saving maneuver, it is associated with certain risks. In general, transfusion-related adverse events are categorized as infectious and noninfectious. Transfusion-transmissible infectious agents such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV) and syphilis are among the greatest threats to blood safety for the recipient. To assess the magnitude and dynamics of disease transmission and for its prevention and control, the study of its seroprevalence is important. Our institute, catering to the needs of a large population in the foothills of the Himalayas, represents an important center for serological surveys. This study aimed to determine the seroprevalence of HIV, HBV, HCV and syphilis infections among blood donors in a tertiary care center of this region. A retrospective analysis of medical records of blood donors who met the standard criteria for donor fitness were screened for HIV, HBS, HCV, Syphilis and Malaria, from January 2007 to December 2011 (5 years). Out of 7884 units collected, 83 (1.05%) units had seropositivity for HBsAg/anti-HCV Ab/anti-HIV Ab/anti-Treponemal Ab, 2 units each revealed dual infections with HIV-HBV and HIV-HCV. Seropositivity rates of HBsAg, anti-HCV Ab, anti-HIV Ab and anti-treponemal Ab were 0.63%, 0.20%, 0.19% and 0.02%, respectively. Even with the implementation of effective preventive strategies, there is significant risk of transmission of infectious agents in India. Efforts to ensure an adequate and safe blood supply should include proper screening and striving for optimal use of blood and its products.Keywords: Seroprevalence; HIV; Hepatitis B; Hepatitis C; Syphilis; Uttarakhan
Soil-release behaviour of polyester fabrics after chemical modification with polyethylene glycol
The ease of cleaning the fibers depends, among other characteristics, on their hydrophilicity. Hydrophilic fibers are easy-wash materials but hydrophobic fibers are difficult to clean due to their higher water-repellent surfaces. This type of surfaces, like polyester (PET), produce an accumulation of electrostatic charges that adsorbs and retain dirt. Thus, the polyester soil-release properties can be increased by finishing processes that improve fiber hydrophilicity [1, 2]. In present study, PET fabric modification was described by using polyethylene glycol (PEG) and dimetilol dihidroxy ethylene urea chemically modified resin. Briefly, the modification process was carried out in two steps, one to hydrolyse the polyester and create hydroxyl and carboxylic acid groups on surface and the other to crosslink the PEG chains. The resulting materials were characterized by contact angle, DSC and FTIR- ATR methods. Additionally, the soil release behavior and mechanical properties of modified PET were evaluated. For the best process conditions, the resulted PET presented 0º contact angle, stain release grade of 5 and acceptable mechanical performance.Programme - COMPETE and by national funds through FCT – Foundation for Science and Technology within the scope of the project POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007136.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Cotton in the new millennium: advances, economics, perceptions and problems
Cotton is the most significant natural fibre and has been a preferred choice of the textile industry and consumers since the industrial revolution began. The share of man-made fibres, both regenerated and synthetic fibres, has grown considerably in recent times but cotton production has also been on the rise and accounts for about half of the fibres used for apparel and textile goods. To cotton’s advantage, the premium attached to the presence of cotton fibre and the general positive consumer perception is well established, however, compared to commodity man-made fibres and high performance fibres, cotton has limitations in terms of its mechanical properties but can help to overcome moisture management issues that arise with performance apparel during active wear.
This issue of Textile Progress aims to:
i. Report on advances in cotton cultivation and processing as well as improvements to conventional cotton cultivation and ginning. The processing of cotton in the textile industry from fibre to finished fabric, cotton and its blends, and their applications in technical textiles are also covered.
ii. Explore the economic impact of cotton in different parts of the world including an overview of global cotton trade.
iii. Examine the environmental perception of cotton fibre and efforts in organic and genetically-modified (GM) cotton production. The topic of naturally-coloured cotton, post-consumer waste is covered and the environmental impacts of cotton cultivation and processing are discussed. Hazardous effects of cultivation, such as the extensive use of pesticides, insecticides and irrigation with fresh water, and consequences of the use of GM cotton and cotton fibres in general on the climate are summarised and the effects of cotton processing on workers are addressed. The potential hazards during cotton cultivation, processing and use are also included.
iv. Examine how the properties of cotton textiles can be enhanced, for example, by improving wrinkle recovery and reducing the flammability of cotton fibre
Sustainable Coloration of Protein Fibers Using Kalanchoe-Pinnata Leaf Extract
A natural dye for dyeing textiles was extracted from Kalanchoe-pinnata leaf powder using aqueous extraction and characterized by determining the radical scavenging activity (%), tannin content, flavonoid and phenolic content, FTIR, and UV-visible absorption analysis. Protein fabrics, i.e., wool, silk, soya, and milk were dyed by optimizing dyeing time, temperature, pH and MLR conditions with and without mordants. The dyed fabrics were assessed for their color strength, fastness properties, ultraviolet protection factor, and antibacterial properties. The result of the study shows that obtained Kalanchoe-pinnata leaf extract has good anti-oxidant properties being 84.92% of radical scavenging activity, possesses good coloration, affinity for textile material and functional properties being high content of tannin, flavonoid, and phenolic compounds. Wool and silk showed very good affinity for the dye extract and fastness behavior followed by soya and milk fabrics. Wool shows ultraviolet protection factor while there is no significant effect on silk, soya, and milk fabrics as these fabrics are very thin in structure. The aqueous extract as well as all the dyed samples also exhibit excellent anti-bacterial activity against S-aurous and E-coli. Thus, Kalanchoe-pinnata leaf extract can be a better sustainable substitute to synthetic dyes for dyeing of protein fabrics
A Study on Durable Flame Retardancy of Jute
Flame retardancy was imparted to jute fabric through application of organophosphorus flame retardants (OFR) and tetrakis (hydroxymethyl) phosphonium chloride (THPC). The OFR agent was used in conjunction with melamine formaldehyde as binder and phosphoric acid as a catalyst. THPC was applied in the form of a THPC-urea complex. Both the flame retardants were applied to scoured and bleached jute hessian fabrics by conventional pad-dry-cure method. The treated fabric samples were tested for flame retardancy in terms of limiting oxygen index (LOI) as well as vertical flammability and for durability of the finish. There was an increase of up to 116% and 46% in the LOI value of OFR and THPC-treated fabrics respectively as compared to untreated fabric. However improvement in thermal behavior was accompanied by a loss in tenacity of treated fabric. THPC-treated fabrics showed better durability as compared to OFR-treated samples. The TGA and DSC of treated samples showed that at a temperature of 600°C, a large amount (42%) of residue is left and char formation takes place. The process facilitated formation of lower volatiles in treated samples as compared to untreated samples