Effect of nanoclay loading on zeta potential of polyester nanocomposite fibre

Polyester (PET) nanocomposite fibres have been melt spun by adding master batches of linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) loaded with organophilic nanoclay after compatibilizing the PET and LLDPE. The spun fibres show increased hydrophobicity which further increases progressively with the amount of nanoclay loaded into the fibre. The addition of this nanoclay also results in improved dyeability of the nanocomposite fibres with acid dyes due to the presence of quaternary ammonium organic substituent that is present in the nanoclay. There is slight decrease in tensile strength of the fibre accompanied by the decrease in elongation %, indicating that the addition of nanoclay makes the filaments stiffer. The onset of crystallization temperature occurs at higher temperature in case of composite fibres than in case of neat PET fibre because of nucleating effect of nanoclay

Banana leaves mediated bio-synthesis of silver nanoparticles

243-247Silver (Ag) ions are successfully reduced to stable silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using banana leaves. Conversion of Ag ions to AgNPs has been confirmed by UV-VIS analysis. The result of change on independent variables, i.e. temperature and strength of reducing agent on absorbance of solution and optimization of parameters has been done using response surface methodology (RSM) as per central composite design (CCD). The type of chemical group present on the nanoparticles is studied using fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). Estimation of the size of particles has been done using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and nanoparticle size analyzer. The crystallinity of the nanoparticles formed has been confirmed using XRD. Energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX) data is used to confirm the nanometal present

A Pan-India, Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices (KAP) Study of Healthcare Practitioners in India Regarding Immunomodulatory Role of Vitamin D Supplementation in COVID-19

Introduction: Vitamin D has immunomodulatory effects and vitamin D deficiency has been associated with autoimmune responses and increased risk of infections. Vitamin D-mediated antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory responses play an effective role in the prevention of various respiratory tract infections including coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Aims and objective: To evaluate the therapeutic role of vitamin D via immunomodulation in COVID-19 through a Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices (KAP) study of pan India healthcare practitioners (HCPs) to arrive at a common consensus statement regarding dosage and duration of vitamin D for immune-modulatory function. Methods: A pan-India, online, questionnaire-based, KAP survey was conducted on vitamin D and its role in immunomodulation in COVID-19 from April 2021 to January 2022 followed by polling obtained from 2,338 HCPs through round table meetings (RTMs). Results: Approximately 64% of HCPs considered the use of vitamin D in COVID-19 patients for various reasons including prevention of illness, reduced ICU stay, reduction in morbidity and mortality along with decrease in the levels of inflammatory markers in COVID-19 patients. For the dosage regime, 47% of HCPs preferred vitamin D 60,000 IUweekly while 45% of HCPs preferred both 60,000 IU weekly and 2,000 IU daily dose for boosting immune system in their patients. Conclusion: The panel agreed that vitamin D levels of 40 ng/mL and above appear to confer better immune-protective response to several infections including COVID-19

Recent progress in molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) based flexible nanogenerators: an inclusive review

Energy consumption and structure have changed in the new era along with the growth of the Internet of Things (IoT) and artificial intelligence, and the power sources for billions of dispersed gadgets and sensors have sparked attention globally to protect the environment. Due to the rising usage of non-renewable energy sources and the resulting environmental damage, researchers are investigating alternative energy systems that can harness energy from the environment. Therefore, self-sufficient small-scale electronic systems will be possible through the use of underutilised natural waste energy sources collected in nanogenerators (NGs). The features of the materials used have a significant impact on how well NGs work. In this regard Molybdenum disulfide (MoS2), a 2D material, is one of the compounds that is discussed vastly nowadays due to its exceptional characteristics that made it useful in a variety of applications. Many research papers on the advancement and implementation of MoS2 materials have been published, but this article will give an in-depth overview. It offers an introduction and interpretation of the main properties of 2D MoS2 nanomaterials, starting with their current state, properties, and various synthesis processes. Later, the review concentrates on MoS2 applications and energy-harvesting capabilities and gives a comprehensive study of piezoelectric, triboelectric and thermometrical nanogenerators based on 2D MoS2 nanocomposite materials

Development and evaluation of introgression lines with yield enhancing genes of the Indian mega-variety of rice, MTU1010

MTU 1010 is an early maturing and high-yielding mega rice variety widely grown in an area of 3 Mha. It is characterised by limited grain number and panicle branching. To improve the grain number in MTU 1010, an IRRI breeding line, IR121055-2-10-5 was utilized as donor to transfer yield-enhancing genes Gn1a and OsSPL14 (associated with increased grain number and better panicle branching, respectively) into MTU1010 by Marker-Assisted Backcross Breeding (MABB). At each backcross generation, foreground selection was carried out with Gn1a and OsSPL14- specific molecular markers, whilst background selection was done with a set of SSR markers polymorphic between the IR121055-2-10-5 and MTU1010. With the use of a gene-specific marker, homozygous BC2 F2 plants carrying the yield-enhancing gene were identified and advanced through pedigree-method of selection till BC2 F6 and best performing ten lines were selected and evaluated in replicated station trials for yield contributing traits, where grain number and brancing per panicle exhibited high significant and positive correlation with single plant yield. Three promising lines namely RP6353-5-8-13-24, RP6353-26-13-39-5 and RP6353-32-12-8-16 with higher grain number and yield than MTU1010 were identified and nominated for evaluation in Initial Varietal Trial-Aerobic (IVT-Aerobic) of All India Crop Improvement Programme on Rice (AICRP), of which RP6353-26-13-39-5 (IET28674), was promoted for further testing

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Abstract Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

Effect of nanoclay loading on zeta potential of polyester nanocomposite fibre

125-131Polyester (PET) nanocomposite fibres have been melt spun by adding master batches of linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) loaded with organophilic nanoclay after compatibilizing the PET and LLDPE. The spun fibres show increased hydrophobicity which further increases progressively with the amount of nanoclay loaded into the fibre. The addition of this nanoclay also results in improved dyeability of the nanocomposite fibres with acid dyes due to the presence of quaternary ammonium organic substituent that is present in the nanoclay. There is slight decrease in tensile strength of the fibre accompanied by the decrease in elongation %, indicating that the addition of nanoclay makes the filaments stiffer. The onset of crystallization temperature occurs at higher temperature in case of composite fibres than in case of neat PET fibre because of nucleating effect of nanoclay

Novel Sericin/Viscose Rayon-Based Biocomposite: Preparation and Characterization

Biocomposite film of viscose rayon filament (VF) and sericin was prepared by a solvent casting method. Sericin was extracted from Bombyx mori cocoons and was used as a matrix, in which viscose rayon filaments were used as a reinforcing material. Different amount of VF (i.e., 15, 20, and 25 wt.%) were used in the biocomposites manufacturing. The effect of various amounts of VF on the mechanical properties of sericin-viscose rayon biocomposite (SVB) were characterized by tensile tests. Moreover, FTIR, TGA, XRD, and SEM analysis were performed to investigate the thermal behavior, the crystallinity and the morphology of the resulting biocomposites, respectively. The tensile strength and elongation at break increased with increasing loading of VF in the matrix. The tensile modulus of the composite films showed a linear, additive dependence on the mixing ratio. The strong hydrogen bonding between sericin and VF was confirmed by FTIR analysis. The decomposition temperature of SVB was higher than VF and sericin indicating its enhanced thermal stability. VF was uniformly impregnated in the sericin matrix as confirmed by the SEM analysis. Resultant biocomposite can find application in various fields like medical textile, automobile, etc