Wax co-cracking synergism of high density polyethylene to alternative fuels

AbstractAttempts have been made to understand the thermal degradation of high density polyethylene (HDPE) and their combined co-cracking using different ratios of HDPE and petroleum wax under nitrogen atmosphere. We have conducted the experiments using HDPE as the raw material and petroleum wax as co-feed by at 400 and 450°C reaction temperatures. The product distribution was noted along with reaction time of 0.5–3h for the degradation. Thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) technique was used to measure the weight change of the feedstock as a function of temperature and time. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was used to determine the degradation temperature. Products were characterized using gas chromatography (GC) and infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), some other standard physical methods were used to determine the main properties of the liquid products. Results show that the mixed plastic-wax samples could be converted into gases, gasoline, and middle distillate depending upon the composition of feed polymer/wax ratio. It was found that the products mostly consisted of paraffin and olefin compounds, with carbon numbers of C1–C4, C5–C9 and C10–C19 in the case of gases, gasoline and middle distillate respectively

The Role of Intravenous Immunoglobulins in Decreasing the Need for Exchange Transfusion in Neonates with Isoimmune Haemolytic Jaundice

Abstract: Background: Neonatal Jaundice secondary to isoimmune haemolytic anemia (Rh and ABO incompatibility) is a cause of high serum bilirubin level due to haemolysis of red blood cells secondary to transplacental passage of antibodies. Intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIG) have been successfully used in isoimmune hemolytic jaundice and were found to decrease hemolysis leading to reduction in serum bilirubin level and subsequently decreasing the need for exchange transfusion. Patients and methods: This study was conducted on 30 full term neonates with isoimmune-hemolytic jaundice admitted in the neonatal intensive care units in New Children's hospital, Cairo University. They were randomly classified into 2 groups Group I: "Study group" (15) neonates presented with isoimmune hemolytic jaundice treated by phototherapy + single dose of I.V immunoglobulin infusion (0.5 gm/Kg). Group II: "Control group&quot

Synthesis and characterization of polyurethane coatings based on soybean oil–polyester polyols

Soybean oil was esterified by glycerol (1:3) molar ratio to produce monoglycerides, and then reacted with phthalic anhydride at ratios 20%, 40% and 60% to produce polyester polyols denoted by PES20, PES40 and PES60. They were investigated by IR spectra and solubility in methanol. Diphenylmethane diisocyanate was reacted with these polyols at NCO/OH ratios 1.2, 1.4, 1.6 using toluene as a solvent to produce polyester–polyurethane coatings, which were characterized by IR spectra. The prepared coatings were characterized by flexibility, pencil hardness, impact resistance and chemical resistance. Good properties of the prepared coatings increase in the direction of increasing hard segments in the sample

Preparation of chitosan from the shrimp shells and its application for pre-concentration of uranium after cross-linking with epichlorohydrin

Chitosan (CTS) was first prepared by proper treatment of shrimp shells and the cross-linked chitosan (CCTS) was then synthesized by its reaction with epichlorohydrin (ECH) under alkaline conditions. Adsorption of uranium from aqueous nitrate solution onto CCTS was investigated batch wise. The adsorption isotherm and the adsorption kinetic as well as thermodynamic studies of this adsorption are carried out. The influence factors on uranium (VI) adsorption were optimized and were found to include an initial pH of 3 and a contact time of 120 min. The Langmuir adsorption model was then applied for the mathematical description of the obtained adsorption equilibrium and where its data greatly agree with that model and where the maximum adsorption capacity was estimated to be 903 mg/g. Adsorption kinetics data were also tested using pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order models and where the studied adsorption followed the latter. In addition, determination of the thermodynamic parameters (ΔG°, ΔH° and ΔS°) using van’t Hoff equation has indicated that the prepared CCTS can conveniently be used for uranium adsorption from its aqueous solution

Vitamin D and cathelicidin assessment in infection-induced asthma in Egyptian children

Abstract Introduction Vitamin D deficiency was hypothesized to increase the risk of respiratory infections and asthma exacerbation through a reduced production of cathelicidin, a multifunctional anti-microbial peptide essential for normal immune responses to infections. Aims Evaluation of vitamin D status and its impact upon cathelicidin in children with infection-induced asthma through assessment of their serum levels. Patients and methods The study included 65 infection-induced asthmatic children aged 9.32 ± 2.35 years (33 in exacerbation and 32 severity matched in remission) and 25 healthy controls. All children were subjected to history taking, physical examination, pulmonary function tests, CBC, and assessment of serum levels of vitamin D (25(OH)D) and cathelicidin using ELISA. Results All asthmatics and controls were deficient in vitamin D (≤ 20 ng/ml), and no significant difference was found between controls (10.77 ± 5.6 ng/ml), remission group (9.8 ± 4.89 ng/ml), and exacerbation group (8.49 ± 5 ng/ml), p = 0.29. Cathelicidin was higher in the control group (7.69 ± 4.3 ng/ml) compared to that in the remission ones (6.88 ± 3.66 ng/ml), but not significant, while it was significantly higher in the exacerbation group (9.78 ± 3.03 ng/ml) compared to that in the remission ones (p = 0.01). No significant difference between the three groups regarding percentage having vitamin D level < 10 ng/ml (p = 0.3). There was no correlation between serum cathelicidin and vitamin D levels in either asthmatics or controls. Both levels had no correlation with spirometry indices and no relation to frequency of exacerbations. Conclusion Vitamin D deficiency cannot explain infection-induced asthma. Cathelicidin elevation in exacerbations seems to be independent of vitamin D

Role of adiponectin, resistin and monocyte chemo-attractant protein-1 in overweight/obese asthma phenotype in children

Abstract Background Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways with diverse overlapping pathologies and phenotypes contributing to a significant heterogeneity in clinical manifestations. Obesity may modify asthma risk, phenotype, and prognosis. A suggested mechanism linking obesity and asthma is through systemic inflammation. Adipokines secreted by adipose tissue were suggested to provide a link between obesity and asthma. Objective To have an understanding for the contribution of adiponectin, resistin and MCP-1 to development of distinct asthma phenotype in overweight/obese children through assessment of their serum level and correlation to pulmonary function tests. Subjects and methods The study included 29 normal weight asthmatics, 23 overweight/obese asthmatic children and 30 controls. All cases were subjected to detailed history taking, thorough examination and pulmonary function tests. Serum adiponectin, resistin, MCP-1 and IgE were assessed to all recruited subjects. Results Adiponectin level was significantly higher in overweight/obese asthmatics (24900 ± 1600 ng/ml) compared to normal weight asthmatics (21700 ± 1700 ng/ml) and control (23000 ± 3200 ng/ml), (p < 0.001 & 0.051 respectively). Normal weight asthmatics had significantly lower adiponectin level than control, (p = 0.039). A significant low level of MCP-1 in overweight/obese asthmatics (149.5 (20—545) ng/L) compared to control (175 (28 -1123.5) ng/L), p = 0.037. No significant difference was found regarding resistin. Normal weight asthmatics had significantly lower FEV1% and FVC% compared to overweight/obese asthmatics (p = 0.036, 0.016 respectively). A significant positive correlation was found between (FEV1%, FVC) and BMI in normal weight asthmatics (P = 0.01, < 0.01 respectively) and a significant negative correlation between PEF and BMI (-0.42, p = 0.05) in obese/overweight asthmatics. Resistin/adiponectin ratio was not affected by sex, degree of asthma severity or level of asthma control in either normal weight or overweight/obese asthmatic. Conclusion This work could suggest that adiponectin may play a role in overweight/obese asthma phenotype where it is possible to have a dual action (pro & anti- inflammatory). It seems that resistin had no role in asthma pathogenesis

The association of TMPRSS6 gene polymorphism with iron status in Egyptian children (a pilot study)

Abstract Several studies have shown association of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of hepcidin regulatory pathways genes with impaired iron status. The most common is in the TMPRSS6 gene. In Africa, very few studies have been reported. We aimed to investigate the correlation between the common SNPs in the transmembrane protease, serine 6 (TMPRSS6) gene and iron indicators in a sample of Egyptian children for identifying the suitable candidate for iron supplementation. Patients and methods One hundred and sixty children aged 5–13 years were included & classified into iron deficient, iron deficient anemia and normal healthy controls. All were subjected to assessment of serum iron, serum ferritin, total iron binding capacity, complete blood count, reticulocyte count, serum soluble transferrin receptor and serum hepcidin. Molecular study of TMPRSS6 genotyping polymorphisms (rs4820268, rs855791 and rs11704654) were also evaluated. Results There was an association of iron deficiency with AG of rs855791 SNP, (P = 0.01). The minor allele frequency for included children were 0.43, 0.45 & 0.17 for rs4820268, rs855791 & rs11704654 respectively. Genotype GG of rs4820268 expressed the highest hepcidin gene expression fold, the lowest serum ferroportin & iron store compared to AA and AG genotypes (p = 0.05, p = 0.05, p = 0.03 respectively). GG of rs855791 had lower serum ferritin than AA (p = 0.04), lowest iron store & highest serum hepcidin compared to AA and AG genotypes (p = 0.04, p = 0.01 respectively). Children having CC of rs11704654 had lower level of hemoglobin, serum ferritin and serum hepcidin compared with CT genotype (p = 0.01, p = 0.01, p = 0.02) respectively. Conclusion Possible contribution of SNPs (rs855791, rs4820268 and rs11704654) to low iron status