Utilization of Cotton Spinning Mill Wastes in Yarn Production

Efficient use of natural resources and utilization of recoverable wastes are getting more and more important day by day since recovering wastes have both economic and environmental benefits. As the source material costs constitute the majority of the yarn production costs, decreasing raw material costs provide considerable advantages for spinners. From the point of textile manufacturing, various production wastes can be reused in textile industry. In each step, from ginning (for cotton fibers) to end product formation, recyclable/recoverable waste materials are generated. However, mainly polyester products are recycled (r-PET) and used again in textile industry by 100% or in blends with other man-made or natural fibers. Compared to research on r-PET, recovered cotton fibers inspired interest recently. The main objective of this study is to fill the gap in the literature via investigating the properties of the yarns produced with recovered cotton wastes, generated in different sources. For this purpose, spinning mill waste types were selected. In this experimental study, different waste types (card waste, blowroom waste, and fabric waste) and blending ratios were used. As a conclusion, the effect of waste type and blend ratio on the physical and mechanical properties of the yarns and the fabrics, produced with virgin and waste cotton fibers, were analyzed

Comparison of Effects of Smoking and Smokeless Tobacco “Maras Powder” Use on Humoral Immune System Parameters

Background. The aim of this study is to assess the impacts of “Maras powder” and cigarette smoking on the parameters of the humoral immune system. Material and Methods. One hundred seventy seven subjects were included in the study. The IgA, IgG, IgM, C3 and C4 levels were detected via nephelometric method. Results. In 1.4% of the control group IgM levels were below normal where it was 10.8% and 18.6% in Maras powder group and in cigarette smoking group respectively. The IgM levels of both groups were significantly lower compared to the control group (P < .05). Nonetheless, the IgE levels of Maras powder group and smoking group were found to be remarkably higher compared to the control group (P < .01). Conclusion. Effects of Maras powder on humoral immune response were found to be similar to that of smoking

Caesarean Section with Spinal Anesthesia and Postspinal Headache

Purpose: To find out ‘what is the leading cause of postpartum headache in patients undergoing caesarean section with spinal anesthesia under elective conditions?’Methods: Our study was conducted with retrospective, controlled assessment of 304 patients who underwent caesarean section with spinal anesthesia under elective conditions at our institution between 1 June 2012 and 1 November 2012. The patients were assessed in terms of postpartum headache. They were divided into 2 groups: the group with headache versus the group without headache (the latter was the control group). Both groups were compared with respect to age, body mass index (BMI), number of previous pregnancies, indications for caesarean section, the spinal needle used during spinal anesthesia, preoperative and postoperative amount of fluid administration, and mobilization time.Results: None of the factors that are effective in development of headache, i.e. age, multiparity, the indication for caesarean section, BMI, and needle type, was statistically significant in logistic regression analysis. Only the needle type was significantly related to headache in Chi-Square test. All headache episodes were mild and improved with conservative therapy. We did not find any difference between groups with respect to age, BMI, number of previous pregnancies, indications for caesarean section, preoperative and postoperative amount of fluid administration, and mobilization time.Conclusion: In patients undergoing cesarean section with spinal anesthesia under elective conditions the main cause of headache is the type of the spinal needle used

Relationship between BODE index, quality of life and inflammatory cytokines in COPD patients

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Recently a multidimensional grading system based on the body mass index (B), degree of airflow obstruction (O), dyspnea (D) and exercise capacity (E) - the BODE index - has begun to be used increasingly for the evaluation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. The aim of our study was to investigate the relationship between the BODE index and disease duration, annual exacerbation and hospitalization rates, health related quality of life and systemic inflammatory markers like C-reactive protein (CRP), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-8. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 88 stable COPD patients we evaluated the body-mass index, pulmonary function tests, Modified Medical Research Council dyspnea scale and six-minute walk test (6 MWT). BODE scores were determined. Disease duration, number of exacerbations and hospitalization in the previous year were recorded. We also performed arterial blood gases analysis, administered the St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) and measured serum levels of CRP, TNF-α, IL-8. RESULTS: According to BODE score 52% of patients were BODE 1, 21% BODE 2, 15% BODE 3 and 12% were BODE 4. There was a significant relationship between BODE index and COPD stage as classified according to the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) (p < 0.001). Correlations between BODE score and disease duration (p = 0.011), number of exacerbations (p < 0.001) and hospitalizations (p < 0.001) in the last year were also observed. SGRQ symptom, activity, emotion scores and total scores were found to be significantly correlated to BODE (p < 0.001). Serum CRP levels and BODE were also correlated (p = 0.014); however, no correlation was found between serum levels of TNF-α and IL-8 and BODE. CONCLUSIONS: As the BODE index shows a strong correlation with various prognostic and follow up parameters of COPD and systemic inflammation, its use should be considered for the evaluation of COPD patients

Bioprocess parameters and oxygen transfer characteristics in beta-lactamase production by Bacillus species

After screening potential beta-lactamase producers in a medium containing penicillin G, an inducible (Bacillus subtilis NRS 1125) and a constitutive (Bacillus licheniformis 749/C ATCC 25972) P-lactamase producer were selected. As the highest enzyme activity was obtained with B. licheniformis 749/C, the effects of the concentration of carbon sources, i.e., glucose, fructose, sucrose, citric acid, and glycerol, and nitrogen sources, i.e., (NH4)(2)HPO4, NH4Cl, yeast extract, casamino acids and peptone, pH, and temperature on P-lactamase production were investigated with B. licheniformis 749/C in laboratory scale bioreactors. Among the investigated media, the highest volumetric activity was obtained as 270 U cm(-3) in the medium containing 10.0 kg m(-3) glucose, 1.18 kg m(-3) (NH4)(2)HPO4, 8.0 kg m(-3) yeast extract, and the salt solution at 32 'C and pH(0) = 6.0. By using the designed medium, fermentation and oxygen transfer characteristics of the bioprocess were investigated at V = 3.0 dm(3) bioreactor systems with a V-R = 1.65 dm(3) working volume at Q(O)/V-R = 0.5 vvm and N = 500 min(-1). At the beginning of the process the Damkohler number was < 1, indicating that the process was at biochemical reaction limited condition; at t = 2-5 h both mass-transfer and biochemical reaction resistances were effective; and at t = 6-10 h (Da much greater than1) the bioprocess was at mass transfer limited condition. Overall oxygen transfer coefficients (K(L)a) varied between 0.01 and 0.03 s(-1), enhancement factor (K(L)a/K(L)a(O)) varied between 1.2 and 2.3, and volumetric oxygen uptake rate varied between 0.001 and 0.003 mol m(-3) s(-1) throughout the bioprocess. The specific oxygen uptake and the specific substrate consumption rates were the highest at t = 2 h and then decreased with the cultivation. The maximum yield of cells on substrate and the maximum yield of cells on oxygen values were obtained, respectively, as Y-X/S = 0.34 and Y-X/O = 1.40, at t = 5 h, whereas the highest yield of substrate on oxygen was obtained as Y-S/O = 6.94 at t = 3.5 h. The rate of oxygen consumption for maintenance and the rate of substrate consumption for maintenance values were found, respectively, as m(O) = 0.13 kg kg(-1) h(-1) and ms = 3.02 kg kg(-1) h(-1)

Production of recombinant proteins by yeast cells

Yeasts are widely used in production of recombinant proteins of medical or industrial interest. For each individual product, the most suitable expression system has to be identified and optimized, both on the genetic and fermentative level, by taking into account the properties of the product, the organism and the expression cassette. There is a wide range of important yeast expression hosts including the species Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Pichia pastoris, Hansenula polymorpha, Kluyveromyces lactis, Schizosaccharomyces pombe, Yarrowia lipolytica and Arxula adeninivorans, with various characteristics such as being thermo-tolerant or halo-tolerant, rapidly reaching high cell densities or utilizing unusual carbon sources. Several strains were also engineered to have further advantages, such as humanized glycosylation pathways or lack of proteases. Additionally, with a large variety of vectors. promoters and selection markers to choose from, combined with the accumulated knowledge on industrial-scale fermentation techniques and the current advances in the post-genomic technology, it is possible to design more cost-effective expression systems in order to meet the increasing demand for recombinant proteins and glycoproteins. In this review, the present status of the main and most promising yeast expression systems is discussed

Pre and post-fire mechanical properties of structural steel and concrete in steel-concrete composite cellular beams

This paper presents an experimental investigation into possible variations of mechanical properties of structural steel and concrete in composite cellular beams exposed to ISO 834 fire and cooled down phases. Four full-scale fire tests were performed on protected and unprotected beams under assumed service loads. Tensile stress-strain behavior of steel coupons taken from the beams and compressive strengths of concrete cores taken from the reinforced concrete slabs are studied. Material coupon tests for steel are carried out as per TS EN ISO 6892-1. As for the concrete, compression tests were conducted. Coupon test results reveal that, after fire testing, a maximum reduction ratio of 65% in ultimate strain is obtained for the unprotected beam samples. This indicates that the reductions in the mechanical properties of steel in the protected beams are much less when compared to those of the unprotected beams. It is also found that the maximum increase in post-fire strength/pre-fire strength ratios for concrete is 11% for the unprotected beam, while a 20 % decrease is recorded for water based protected cellular beam. For the protected specimens, the RC slabs were exposed to higher temperatures, and the compressive strength of concrete after testing was lower than that of the unprotected beam slabs