Specific tracking of xylan using fluorescent-tagged carbohydrate-binding module 15 as molecular probe

Additional file 5: Figure S3. Low-resolution XPS spectrum of UBKP surface. UBKP: unbleached kraft pulp. Unextracted pulp samples were analysed

Investigation on BST-NZF Magnetoelectric Composites

Here, we are reporting electrical properties of Barium Titanate and Ni-Zn ferrite magneto-electric composites. Sr substituted barium titanate (BST = 90%) and MnO2 doped nickel zinc ferrite (NZF = 10%) were selected as individual phases for magneto-electric composite. Individual Ba0.9Sr0.1TiO3 and Ni0.8Zn0.2Fe2O4 were prepared separately through solid state reaction route. For structural analysis, the sintered samples subjected to X-ray diffraction reveal a presence of both the ferrite and ferroelectric phase in the composite sample. Dielectric properties were measured as a function of frequency and temperature. Curie temperature for pure BST was observed to be 92 °C, whereas in the composite sample, the transition became broader. P-E hysteresis loops were recorded at 20 Hz for all the sample

Investigation on BST-NZF Magnetoelectric Composites

452-455Here, we are reporting electrical properties of Barium Titanate and Ni-Zn ferrite magneto-electric composites. Sr substituted barium titanate (BST = 90%) and MnO2 doped nickel zinc ferrite (NZF = 10%) were selected as individual phases for magneto-electric composite. Individual Ba0.9Sr0.1TiO3 and Ni0.8Zn0.2Fe2O4 were prepared separately through solid state reaction route. For structural analysis, the sintered samples subjected to X-ray diffraction reveal a presence of both the ferrite and ferroelectric phase in the composite sample. Dielectric properties were measured as a function of frequency and temperature. Curie temperature for pure BST was observed to be 92 C, whereas in the composite sample, the transition became broader. P-E hysteresis loops were recorded at 20 Hz for all the samples

Technical Paper Session I-B - CIGSeS and CIGS2 Thin Film Solar Cells on Flexible Foils for Space Power

The objective of the research is to develop flexible, lightweight, radiationresistant, high-specific-power, highly efficient CuIn1-xGaxSe2-ySy (CIGSeS) and CuIn1- xGaxS2 (CIGS2) thin-film solar cells for space electric power. The near optimum bandgap, potential for higher specific power, and superior radiation resistance make this technology an ideal candidate for space electric power. The superior radiation resistance of CIGSeS thin-film solar cells relative to the conventional silicon and gallium arsenide single-crystal cells in the space radiation environment would extend mission lifetimes substantially. The conventional rigid Si and GaAs cells must be folded in an accordion style for deployment space. This can cause problems of opening up and folding of the solar array as has happened recently with the International Space Station. On the other hand, the flexible solar cells and modules can be packaged and rolled out more easily. The stainless steel and titanium foil substrate materials are capable of withstanding high temperatures required for preparing good quality CIGSeS absorber layer. They also do not sag easily and hence do not require rigidizing as is the case with plastic sheet substrates. The CIGSeS absorber film is prepared by selenization/sulfurization of DC magnetron sputter-deposited CuGa, In metallic precursors on 10 cm x 10 cm metallic foil substrate coated with molybdenum back contact layer. CdS heterojunction partner is deposited by chemical bath deposition. Transparent and conducting bilayer of intrinsic ZnO and aluminum doped ZnO:Al is deposited by RF magnetron sputtering. Cells are completed by depositing Ni/Al front contact fingers by thermal evaporation. The sputtering technique utilized in the preparation of solar cells provides an added advantage of facilitating easy scale-up of the laboratory size cells for economic large-area manufacture by the roll-to-roll process. Chemical composition, crystallographic structure and morphology of CIGSeS thin films are analyzed by energy dispersive spectroscopy, Auger electron spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The photovoltaic properties of completed cells are studied by measurement of current-voltage characteristics and quantum efficiency. Best efficiencies of 10.4% under AM 1.5 conditions and 8.84% under AM 0 conditions were achieved on small-area CIGS2 thin-film solar cells

Prevalence of waterborne diseases and drinking water quality in the tribal’s areas of Garhwal Himalayas Uttarakhand, India: An awareness programme and mitigation approaches

184-206The livelihood strategies of the tribal communities are diverse from other communities as the ecological surrounding area, population size, language, physical features and level of development vary in the scheduled tribe’s categories. A tribal population in Uttarakhand resides in long Tarai and far-flung remote hilly regions, where livelihood and development are a matter of hardship. In fact, the basic health facilities, sensitization about quality drinking water and many more are in adequate. The tribe’s areas are most neglected and highly vulnerable to diseases with a high degree of malnutrition, morbidity and mortality. Their misery is compounded by poverty, illiteracy, ignorance of the causes of diseases, hostile environment, poor sanitation, lack of safe drinking water and blind beliefs, etc. Water from the different sources is being polluted by different means such as domestic waste, weathering of rocks, anthropogenic activities and sewage effluents, etc., which affect the physicochemical and biological properties of water, which ultimately create havoc among the tribes by many water-borne diseases

Prevalence of waterborne diseases and drinking water quality in the tribal’s areas of Garhwal Himalayas Uttarakhand, India: An awareness programme and mitigation approaches

The livelihood strategies of the tribal communities are diverse from other communities as the ecological surrounding area, population size, language, physical features and level of development vary in the scheduled tribe’s categories. A tribal population in Uttarakhand resides in long Tarai and far-flung remote hilly regions, where livelihood and development are a matter of hardship. In fact, the basic health facilities, sensitization about quality drinking water and many more are in adequate. The tribe’s areas are most neglected and highly vulnerable to diseases with a high degree of malnutrition, morbidity and mortality. Their misery is compounded by poverty, illiteracy, ignorance of the causes of diseases, hostile environment, poor sanitation, lack of safe drinking water and blind beliefs, etc. Water from the different sources is being polluted by different means such as domestic waste, weathering of rocks, anthropogenic activities and sewage effluents, etc., which affect the physicochemical and biological properties of water, which ultimately create havoc among the tribes by many water-borne diseases

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

Vaccination Strategies Based on Bacterial Self-Assembling Proteins as Antigen Delivery Nanoscaffolds

Vaccination has saved billions of human lives and has considerably reduced the economic burden associated with pandemic and endemic infectious diseases. Notwithstanding major advancements in recent decades, multitude diseases remain with no available effective vaccine. While subunit-based vaccines have shown great potential to address the safety concerns of live-attenuated vaccines, their limited immunogenicity remains a major drawback that still needs to be addressed for their use fighting infectious illnesses, autoimmune disorders, and/or cancer. Among the adjuvants and delivery systems for antigens, bacterial proteinaceous supramolecular structures have recently received considerable attention. The use of bacterial proteins with self-assembling properties to deliver antigens offers several advantages, including biocompatibility, stability, molecular specificity, symmetrical organization, and multivalency. Bacterial protein nanoassemblies closely simulate most invading pathogens, acting as an alarm signal for the immune system to mount an effective adaptive immune response. Their nanoscale architecture can be precisely controlled at the atomic level to produce a variety of nanostructures, allowing for infinite possibilities of organized antigen display. For the bottom-up design of the proteinaceous antigen delivery scaffolds, it is essential to understand how the structural and physicochemical properties of the nanoassemblies modulate the strength and polarization of the immune responses. The present review first describes the relationships between structure and the generated immune responses, before discussing potential and current clinical applications