Development of a plastic dosimeter for industrial use with high doses

These films contain a mixture of two dyes namely bromothymol blue (BTB) and methyl orange (MO) indicator with different concentration of alanine in poly(vinyl alcohol). The color of this film changes from green to pale yellow. The response of these films can be modified by changing the alanine concentration and the ratio of the two dyes. As a result, these films can be used as a dosimeter in high dose range. The dosimetric parameter, e.g. dose response, effect of relative humidity,  pre- and post-irradiation stability of these films are investigated

Dyed Grafted Poly(tetra fluoro ethylene-perfluoro vinyl ether) copolymer Film with Acrylic Acid for High-Dose Radiation Dosimetry

The grafted films of poly(tetra fluoro ethylene-perfluoro vinyl ether) copolymer film with acrylic acid ( PFA-g-PAAc) were prepared by ?-radiation. The films were allowed to react with an ionic dye, namely Brilliant Green (BG). The investigations show that these new dosimeter films of PFABG may be useful for high dose gamma radiation applications. The useful absorbed dose range of the dyed film extends up to about 400 kGy. The radiation-induced colour bleaching has been analyzed with visible spectrophotometery, either at the maximum of absorption band at 633 nm. The effects of relative humidity during irradiation, shelf-life and post-irradiation storage in dark and indirect daylight conditions on dosimeters performance are discussed. Key word: Brilliant Green/ Poly(tetra fluoro ethylene-perfluoro vinyl ether) copolymer/ Acrylic Acid/ Radiation Dosimetr

Can montelukast correct immune dysregulation in preschool children with mild persistent asthma?

Background: Asthma is the most common inflammatory disorder among preschool and school-age children. Regulation of immune cells and their cytokines is essential to control asthma. Montelukast is a leukotriene receptor antagonist that suppresses inflammatory cell proliferation, and reduces cytokines and mediator secretion. Objective: The research team's goal was to study the immunological parameters among mild  asthmatic patients before and after the treatment with Montelukast. Methods: Forty preschool children with mild persistent asthma and twenty healthy, non-allergic children were included in the study. Blood eosinophil count, total IgE, serum IL-4, IL-10, and IL-13 levels were  assessed. T helper (CD3+CD4+) and T regulatory (CD4+CD25+) cell counts were measured using flow cytometry; for mild asthmatics before and after six weeks of treatment with Montelukast and for the control group. Results: Asthmatic children have shown a significant elevation of serum levels of IgE, IL4 and IL13, and also an increase of eosinophils, total lymphocyte T cells and T helper cell count. However; serum levels of IL10 and Treg cell count was lower in asthmatics compared to control. Following six weeks of Montelukast treatment, all immunological parameters improved. There was a significant elevation of serum levels of IL10 and Treg cell count, with a decrease in serum levels of IgE, IL4 and IL13; eosinophil counts, and helper T cells. Conclusion: Montelukast treatment improves the impaired immunological balance of mild asthmatic children through the increase of serum IL-10, T regulatory cell counts that have anti-inflammatory and immunoregulatory effects. It also decreases T helper cells and their proinflammatory cytokines

CONFLICTOS AMBIENTALES URBANOS: CONCEPTUALIZACIÓN Y ANÁLISIS CON ÉNFASIS EN BOGOTÁ

La temática que se aborda en el presente ensayo corresponde al campo de los conflictos ambientales, en particular los urbanos con énfasisen Bogotá. La pregunta problema que se definió tiene que ver con ¿cuáles son las características de los conflictos ambientales urbanos? La metodología e instrumento utilizado se tomó del proyecto EJOLT para análisis de conflictos ambientales con algunas leves modificaciones. Dentro de los resultados se reconoce el carácter multicausal de los conflictos urbanos con diferentes valoraciones y procesos que enfrentan a los actores: valoraciones ecológicas, valoraciones paisajísticas, participación ciudadana, ordenamiento del territorio, valoraciones sociales, crecimiento y expansión urbana

Optimization of Serine Protease Purification from Mango (Mangifera indica cv. Chokanan) Peel in Polyethylene Glycol/Dextran Aqueous Two Phase System

Mango peel is a good source of protease but remains an industrial waste. This study focuses on the optimization of polyethylene glycol (PEG)/dextran-based aqueous two-phase system (ATPS) to purify serine protease from mango peel. The activity of serine protease in different phase systems was studied and then the possible relationship between the purification variables, namely polyethylene glycol molecular weight (PEG, 4000–12,000 g·mol−1), tie line length (−3.42–35.27%), NaCl (−2.5–11.5%) and pH (4.5–10.5) on the enzymatic properties of purified enzyme was investigated. The most significant effect of PEG was on the efficiency of serine protease purification. Also, there was a significant increase in the partition coefficient with the addition of 4.5% of NaCl to the system. This could be due to the high hydrophobicity of serine protease compared to protein contaminates. The optimum conditions to achieve high partition coefficient (84.2) purification factor (14.37) and yield (97.3%) of serine protease were obtained in the presence of 8000 g·mol−1 of PEG, 17.2% of tie line length and 4.5% of NaCl at pH 7.5. The enzymatic properties of purified serine protease using PEG/dextran ATPS showed that the enzyme could be purified at a high purification factor and yield with easy scale-up and fast processing