Black dyes for coir fibre: 3 practical considerations

Earlier trials on Synacril Black A, Benzamin Black DS 167% and Suprexcel Black VY- three possible substitute dyes for Chlorazol Black E -showed the effect of variations in dyebath conditions on the amount of dye deposited on coir (Canning, A. J., Jarman, C. G. and Mykoluk, S. M. (1979) Black dyes for coir fibre. Part 2. Evaluation of selected dyes. Report of the Tropical Products Institute, L52). Further trials, in which both different concentrations of dye in the bath, and a standing bath were used, have now been carried out to obtain additional data on the exhaustion characteristics of the three dyes. Additionally, the effect of variations in dyebath conditions on the quality of colour, and the amount of each of the three dyes that needs to be deposited on to the fibre to produce an acceptable black, have been assessed. With all three dyes, dyebath exhaustion was approached more slowly with increased dyebath concentration. As a consequence, when additional dye is used, dyeing time must be increased to obtain the most efficient use of dye. Since the proportion of dye that exhausts from the bath is also reduced, particularly with the higher dyebath concentrations or the shorter dyeing times, increasingly large additions of dye are required in order to intensify the visual depth of shade. With low dyebath concentrations of the two direct dyes (Benzamin Black and Suprexcel Black), allowing the liquor to cool during dyeing could reduce heating costs since the exhaustion obtained after 1.5 hours at 95°C followed by cooling was similar to that obtained after 6 hours at 95°C. However, with deeper shades the opportunity for reducing heating costs by reducing dyeing time at 95°C and then cooling is less. The inclusion of sodium carbonate in the dyebath could also result in savings on dyestuff. When using a standing bath technique with Benzamin Black, significantly different exhaustion/time relationships were obtained with each batch of fibre. As a consequence there would be considerable practical difficulties in using this dye with this technique. On the other hand, the exhaustion of Suprexcel Black was only slightly affected by the use of replenished liquors and a standing bath technique could reduce costs. Because of its almost complete exhaustion, there would be no advantage in using a standing bath with the basic dye Synacril Black. All the dyes gave better light-fastness properties when they were concentrated at the periphery of the fibre rather than when they penetrated more deeply: however, staining of adjacent fabrics was greater. The distribution of the dye within the fibre did not affect the visual colour. All three dyes should produce black colours which are technically similar to those of commercial samples of black coir. The amounts which need to be deposited on the fibre to produce an acceptable black are estimated as approximately: Benzamin Black DS 167% - 19g per kilogram of fibre; Suprexcel Black VY - 22g per kilogram of fibre; Synacril Black A - 10g per kilogram of fibre. Fastness properties of the blacks vary with the dye and the technique used to apply it. Information on the development of optimum dyeing conditions is appended

Pad-batch dyeing of plant fibres

This guide describes a new method of dyeing plant fibres which are to be made into hats and handbags and other craft work. The pages on this side of the book are intended as a guide for the instructor and extension worker to help him introduce the method to craft workers. We hope the booklet will also be of use to the craft dyers and workers themselves so we have designed the left-hand pages specially for them. The left-hand pages describe the method in photographs with short, clear instructions. The right-hand pages give more information and will help extension workers and instructors to understand and explain the method

Forkhead Transcription Factor Fd3F Cooperates with Rfx to Regulate a Gene Expression Program for Mechanosensory Cilia Specialization

Cilia have evolved hugely diverse structures and functions to participate in a wide variety of developmental and physiological processes. Ciliary specialization requires differences in gene expression, but few transcription factors are known to regulate this, and their molecular function is unclear. Here, we show that the Drosophila Forkhead box (Fox) gene, fd3F, is required for specialization of the mechanosensory cilium of chordotonal (Ch) neurons. fd3F regulates genes for Ch-specific axonemal dyneins and TRPV ion channels, which are required for sensory transduction, and retrograde transport genes, which are required to differentiate their distinct motile and sensory ciliary zones. fd3F is reminiscent of vertebrate Foxj1, a motile cilia regulator, but fd3F regulates motility genes as part of a broader sensory regulation program. Fd3F cooperates with the pan-ciliary transcription factor, Rfx, to regulate its targets directly. This illuminates pathways involved in ciliary specialization and the molecular mechanism of transcription factors that regulate them

Sweet Chestnut (Castanea Sativa Mill.) in Britain: Re-assessment of its Status as a Roman Archaeophyte

The Roman period sees the introduction of many new plants and animals into Britain, with a profound impact on people’s experience of their environment. Sweet chestnut is considered to be one such introduction, for which records of sweet chestnut wood and charcoal from archaeological excavations of Romano-British period contexts have been used as evidence. This paper reviews the records for sweet chestnut in Britain pre-A.D. 650, by critically evaluating original excavation reports and examining archived specimens. This review re-assesses the original identifications of sweet chestnut and/or their dating and concludes that most of the evidence that justified sweet chestnut’s status as a Roman archaeophyte is untenable. The review emphasises the importance of securely identifying and directly dating plant material and of long-term curation by museums and archives

The psychiatric decision unit as an emerging model in mental health crisis care: a national survey in England

Psychiatric decision units have been developed in many countries internationally to address the pressure on inpatient services and dissatisfactory, long waits people in mental health crisis can experience in emergency departments. Research into these units lags behind their development, as they are implemented by healthcare providers to address these problems. This is the first-ever national survey to identify their prevalence, structure, activities, and contextual setting within health services, in order to provide a robust basis for future research. The response rate was high (94%), and six PDUs in England were identified. The results indicated that PDUs open 24/7, accept only voluntary patients, provide recliner chairs for sleeping rather than beds, and limit stays to 12–72 hours. PDUs are predominantly staffed by senior, qualified mental health nurses and healthcare assistants, with psychiatry input. Staff:patient ratios are high (1:2.1 during the day shift). Differences in PDU structure and activities (including referral pathway, length of stay, and staff:patient ratios) were identified, suggesting the optimal configuration for PDUs has not yet been established. Further research into the efficacy of this innovation is needed; PDUs potentially have a role in an integrated crisis care pathway which provides a variety of care options to service users

Feasibility and accuracy of ED frailty identification in older trauma patients: a prospective multi-centre study.

BACKGROUND: The burden of frailty on older people is identifiable by its adverse effect on mortality, morbidity and long term functional and health outcomes. In patients suffering from a traumatic injury there is increasing evidence that it is frailty rather than age that impacts greatest on these outcomes and that early identification can guide frailty specific care. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of nurse-led assessment of frailty in older trauma patients in the ED in patients admitted to major trauma centres. METHODS: Patients age 65 years and over attending the Emergency Departments (ED) of five Major Trauma Centres following traumatic injury were enrolled between June 2019 and March 2020. Patients were assessed for frailty whilst in the ED using three different screening tools (Clinical Frailty Scale [CFS], Program of Research to Integrate Services for the Maintenance of Autonomy 7 [PRIMSA7], and the Trauma Specific Frailty Index [TSFI]) to compare feasibility and accuracy. Accuracy was determined by agreement with geriatrician assessment of frailty. The primary outcome was identification of frailty in the ED using three different assessment tools. RESULTS: We included 372 patients whose median age was 80, 53.8% of whom were female. The most common mechanism of injury was fall from less than 2 m followed by falls greater than 2 m. Completion rates for the tools were variable, 31.9% for TSFI, compared to 93% with PRISMA7 and 98.9% with the CFS. There was substantial agreement when using CFS between nurse defined frailty and geriatrician defined frailty. Agreement was moderate using PRISMA7 and slight using TSFI. CONCLUSIONS: This prospective study has demonstrated that screening for frailty in older major trauma patients within the Emergency Department is feasible and accurate using CFS. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ISRCTN, ISRCTN10671514 . Registered 22 October 2019