Characterization of fire retardant properties of cow horn ash particles and thermal behavior of polyester/ Banana peduncle fibre /cow horn ash particle hybrid composites

Natural fibres thermally degrade and burn readily and their use has been restricted in applications where the heat and fire regulations are stringent. The need to enhance the fire resistance of natural fibres inspired the development of cow horn ash particles as a novel flame retardant additive for polyester/cow horn ash particles (CHAp)/Banana peduncle fibre (BPF) hybrid composites. The composites were produced by varying the ratios of CHA: BPF from 0:0, 2.5:2.5, 5:5, 7.5:7.5 and 10:0wt%. The thermal and fire properties were determined. The results obtained showed that the incorporation of CHAp played a crucial role in improving the thermal stability of the composites by acting as an effective physical barriers against thermal decomposition in the polymer composites. This work shows that at 7.5wt%CHAp: 7.5wt% composite delay the ignition time by 25, the end of burning time by 14.24% and reduced the total heat release rate by 9.07%. The  research work has established that CHAp can be used to replace expensive and toxic organic and inorganic flame retarded polymer composites for structural application. Keywords: cow horn ash; polyester; fire retardancy; banana peduncle fibre. DOI: 10.7176/CPER/62-06 Publication date: February 29th 202

Thermal Decomposition and Flame retardancy of Functional Polyester/Banana Peduncle fibre and Aluminum Hydroxide particle Hybrid Composites.

Polymers which take up 80% of the organic industry are known for their high flammability with the production of heat, corrosive toxic gases, and smoke. The need to improve the fire resistance properties of polymer and natural fibre composites lead to the development of functional novel polyester/ aluminum hydroxide (AH) particles- Banana peduncle fibre (BPF) hybrid composites. The composites were produced by varying the ratio of AH:BPF from 0:0, 2.5:2.5, 5:5, 7.5:7.5 and 10:10wt%. The thermal and fire properties were determined. The incorporated AH played a crucial role in improving the thermal stability of the composites by acting as effective physical barriers against the thermal decomposition in the polymer composite. There was maximum, endothermic peak, shift to higher temperature, as the weight percent addition of AH was increased, which reflected in improved thermal stability of the composites. This work shows that addition of 10wt%AH:10wt%BPF to polyester composite retarded its burning by delaying the ignition time by 22.94%, the end of burning time by 13.15% and reduction of the total heat release rate by 29.68%. Keywords: Aluminum hydroxide (AH); polyester; flame retardancy;  banana peduncle fibres (BPF). DOI: 10.7176/CPER/62-07 Publication date: February 29th 202

Cucumeropsis mannii seed oil (CMSO) attenuates alterations in testicular biochemistry and histology against Bisphenol a-induced toxicity in male Wister albino rats

From Elsevier via Jisc Publications RouterHistory: accepted 2022-03-18, epub 2022-03-25, issued 2022-03-31Article version: VoRPublication status: PublishedBackground Male reproductive health has deteriorated in recent years as a result of industrialization, which has led to the use of desirable chemicals, like Bisphenol A (BPA), of underlying toxicity. Cucumeropsis mannii seed is a common soup thickener that produces vegetable oil as well as essential nutrients making it a source of nutraceuticals enlisted with a wide range of therapeutic effects. Methods A total of 48 adult male Wistar rats (120 ± 200g) were used in this study. They were completely randomized and divided into six groups: A (1ml olive oil) irrespective of the weight, B [BPA 100 mg/kg body weight (bw)], C (CMSO 7.5 ml/kg bw), D (CMSO 7.5 ml/kg bw + BPA 100 mg/kg bw), E (CMSO 5.0 ml/kg bw + BPA 100 mg/kg bw), and E (CMSO 2.5 ml/kg bw + BPA 100 mg/kg bw). At the end of the administration via oral routes, rats were sacrificed and testes were collected for biochemistry and histological analysis. Results BPA significantly (P < 0.05) decreased total testicular protein, epididymal sperm parameters (count, volume, and motility), Mitochondrial Membrane Potential (MMP), body weight, testicular volume; and significantly (P < 0.05) increased testicular enzymes (alkaline phosphatase and lactate dehydrogenase), testicular index; plus histological damages. Interestingly, co-administration of BPA and CMSO significantly (P < 0.05) reversed the biochemical and histological changes. Conclusions CMSO prevented the biochemistry and histological alterations hence reducing the testicular toxicity. Therefore, CMSO has the potential to be a promising novel nutraceutical for the treatment and management of BPA-induced testicular toxicity

Cross-sectional characteristics of pediatric-onset discoid lupus erythematosus: Results of a multicenter, retrospective cohort study

The incidence of systemic lupus in children with discoid lupus is unknown. This study assessed the baseline characteristics of patients with pediatric discoid lupus erythematosus (pDLE). Medical records at 17 sites were reviewed for pediatric dermatology and rheumatology patients with discoid lupus erythematosus. The inclusion criteria were clinical and/or histopathologic diagnosis of discoid lupus erythematosus with an age at onset of <18 years. Baseline data were collected at the first documented visit. Outcomes included diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) at the baseline visit using the 1997 American College of Rheumatology (primary) and the 2012 Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics (secondary) criteria. Of the >1500 charts reviewed, 438 patients met the inclusion criteria. The cohort was predominantly female (72%) and racially/ethnically diverse. A diagnosis of SLE at the baseline visit (pDLE + SLE) was rendered in 162 (37%) patients using the American College of Rheumatology and in 181 (41%) patients using the Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics criteria. Patients with pDLE + SLE were older at the time of rash onset (median, 12.9 vs 8.9 years; P < .001), with shorter time from discoid lupus erythematosus onset to diagnosis, compared with patients with pDLE-only (median, 2 vs 7 months; P < .001). Patients with pDLE + SLE were more likely to be female (P = .004), with generalized discoid lupus erythematosus and clinically aggressive disease, including end-organ involvement, positive serologies, and higher- titer levels of antinuclear antibodies (P < .001). Retrospective study. A diagnosis of discoid lupus erythematosus in adolescence should prompt thorough screening for SLE