An Artistic Vision of Using Polyurethane Foam in Drapping Fictional Costumes Designs to Achieve Sustainable Development

One of the aspects of the modern era is leaving more room for imagination and experimentation. Costumes design in general and fictional costumes design in particular are among the areas that need a lot of experimentation, especially with new, non-traditional materials. This is what encouraged the researchers to choose the polyurethane foam as a non-traditional material to design fictional costumes in order to achieve sustainable development goals. The research aims at clarifying the characteristics of the polyurethane foam and it’s Forming instead of plastic capabilities in the field of Costumes design, and providing proposals for fictional costumes designs with this material, in addition to achieving the sustainable development goals; such as, adopting sustainable production and consumption patterns, and stimulating innovation. The research findings state the possibility of achieving new visions of using the polyurethane foam to design and create fictional costumes in order to achieve the goals of sustainable development

Sandwich structure polymer electrolyte membranes containing phosphotungstic acid immobilized electospun nanofibers

The advances in proton exchange membranes (PEM)s is critical for improving the performance of fuel cells [1]. Membranes compromising perfluorosulfonic acid polymers such as Nafion have been used extensively due to their desired conductivity and stability. However, these materials need to be saturated with water to obtain practical level of proton conductivity. There is a strong demand for the PEMs to work at lower relative humidity or under anhydrous conditions because the electrochemical reactions will be accelerated and water management of fuel cell will be simpler. Various designing strategies and advanced materials have been developed to mitigate for this issue without causing serious loss in proton conductivity or stability [2]. Among all, the introducing of inorganic proton conductors such as heteropoly acids have been considered widely. Generally, HPAs (such as phosphotungstic acid H3PW12O40, PWA) have a very strong Brønsted acidity approaching the superacid region (more acidic than Nafion) [3]. In this work, high level of PWA was self-anchored onto nylon electrospun nanofiberous sheet (Figure 1b). Sandwich structured proton conducting membranes were fabricate by assembling nanofibrous central layer with outer Nafion layers (Figure 1b). Since the PWA is attached to the polymer backbones, the risk of leaching out is minimized. Moreover, the significant synthetic versatility of the method helps to increase PWA immobilization level. As shown in the Figure 1c, proton conductivity of as high as 60 mS cm-1 at 30 °C was achieved which is comparable with Nafion 115. The durability of the proton conductivity of sandwiched membrane

Highly conductive anion exchange membranes based on polymer networks containing imidazolium functionalised side chains

Two novel types of anion exchange membranes (AEMs) having imidazolium-type functionalised nanofibrous substrates were prepared using the facile and potentially scalable method. The membranes’ precursors were prepared by graft copolymerization of vinylbenzyl chloride (VBC) onto syndiotactic polypropylene (syn-PP) and polyamide-66 (PA-66) nanofibrous networks followed by crosslinking with 1,8-octanediamine, thermal treatment and subsequent functionalisation of imidazolium groups. The obtained membranes displayed an ion exchange capacity (IEC) close to 1.9 mmol g–1 and ionic (OH-) conductivity as high as 130 mS cm–1 at 80 °C. This was coupled with a reasonable alkaline stability representing more than 70% of their original conductivity under accelerated degradation test in 1 M KOH at 80 °C for 360 h. The effect of ionomer binder on the performance of the membrane electrode assembly (MEA) in AEM fuel cell was evaluated with the optimum membrane. The MEA showed a power density of as high as 440 mW cm−2 at a current density is 910 mA cm−2 with diamine crosslinked quaternized polysulfone (DAPSF) binder at 80 °C with 90% humidified H2 and O2 gases. Such performance was 2.3 folds higher than the corresponding MEA performance with quaternary ammonium polysulfone (QAPS) binder at the same operating conditions. Overall, the newly developed membrane was found to possess not only an excellent combination of physico-chemical properties and a reasonable stability but also to have a facile preparation procedure and cheap ingredients making it a promising candidate for application in AEM fuel cell

LIPASE IMMOBILIZATION ON FIBERS GRAFTED WITH POLYGLYCIDYL METHACHRYLATE

ABSTRACT: Lipase enzyme originated from wheat germ was immobilized on nylon -6- grafted with polyglycidyl methachrylate (PGMA). The immobilization of enzyme experiments were designed and studied using face centred central composite design (FCCCD) under response surface methodology (RSM). Prior to immobilization, the polymer was activated with diethyl amine/ethanol to introduce an amine functional group to facilitate covalent bonding with the enzyme. The immobilized and free enzymes were characterized for effect of temperature and pH on enzyme activity, stability, storage and reusability as well as kinetics studies. ANOVA revealed that optimum lipase activity of 0.287 U/ml was achieved at immobilization time of 5 h, pH of 6 and 1.0 mg/ml for enzyme concentration. The optimum temperatures and pH for immobilized and free enzymes were 45 °C and 35 °C, and 8 and 7, respectively. The immobilized enzyme showed higher stability compared to free enzyme. The immobilized enzyme retained 18% of its activity after being recycled 8 times. In a storage stability test, immobilized lipase was able to retain 70% of its activity after being stored for 30 days, while free enzyme activity dropped to 15 % after 20 days of storage. ABSTRAK:Enzim Lipase telah dihasilkan daripada mikroorganisma pegun gandum di atas nilon -6- dan digraf bersama poliglisidel methakrilet (PGMA). Enzim pegun ini direka dan dikaji secara eksperimen menggunakan reka bentuk campuran pusat pada permukaan (FCCCD) di bawah kaedah tindak balas permukaan (RSM). Sebelum menjadi pegun, polimer ini telah diaktifkan dengan dietil amine/ethanol bagi menghasilkan kumpulan fungsi amine bagi membantu ikatan kovalen atom pada enzim. Enzim pegun dan bebas ini telah dikategorikan mengikut kesan enzim ke atas suhu, aktiviti enzim ke atas kesan pH, kestabilan, keboleh-simpanan dan keboleh-gunaan balik, serta ujian tindak balas kinetik. ANOVA membuktikan bahawa aktiviti optimum enzim lipase ini adalah sebanyak 0.287 U/ml telah terhasil selama 5 jam pegun, pada pH 6 dan kepekatan enzim sebanyak 1.0 mg/ml. Suhu dan pH optimum, pada enzim pegun dan enzim bebas ini adalah pada 45 °C dan 35 °C, dan pH 8 dan 7, masing-masing. Enzim pegun ini menunjukkan lebih stabil daripada enzim bebas. Enzim pegun dilihat kekal 18% daripada aktivitinya selepas 8 kali ulangan. Melalui ujian kestabilan simpanan, enzim lipase pegun dapat mengekalkan 70% daripada aktivinya selepas disimpan selama 30 hari, manakala aktiviti enzim bebas telah menurun kepada 15% selepas 20 hari dalam simpanan

Surveillance on A/H5N1 virus in domestic poultry and wild birds in Egypt

The endemic H5N1 high pathogenicity avian influenza virus (A/H5N1) in poultry in Egypt continues to cause heavy losses in poultry and poses a significant threat to human health. Here we describe results of A/H5N1 surveillance in domestic poultry in 2009 and wild birds in 2009-2010. Tracheal and cloacal swabs were collected from domestic poultry from 22024 commercial farms, 1435 backyards and 944 live bird markets (LBMs) as well as from 1297 wild birds representing 28 different types of migratory birds. Viral RNA was extracted from a mix of tracheal and cloacal swabs media. Matrix gene of avian influenza type A virus was detected using specific real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and positive samples were tested by RT- qPCR for simultaneous detection of the H5 and N1 genes. In this surveillance, A/H5N1 was detected from 0.1% (n = 23/) of examined commercial poultry farms, 10.5% (n = 151) of backyard birds and 11.4% (n = 108) of LBMs but no wild bird tested positive for A/H5N1. The virus was detected from domestic poultry year- round with higher incidence in the warmer months of summer and spring particularly in backyard birds. Outbreaks were recorded mostly in Lower Egypt where 95.7% (n = 22), 68.9% (n = 104) and 52.8% (n = 57) of positive commercial farms, backyards and LBMs were detected, respectively. Higher prevalence (56%, n = 85) was reported in backyards that had mixed chickens and waterfowl together in the same vicinity and LBMs that had waterfowl (76%, n = 82). Our findings indicated broad circulation of the endemic A/H5N1 among poultry in 2009 in Egypt. In addition, the epidemiology of A/H5N1 has changed over time with outbreaks occurring in the warmer months of the year. Backyard waterfowl may play a role as a reservoir and/or source of A/H5N1 particularly in LBMs. The virus has been established in poultry in the Nile Delta where major metropolitan areas, dense human population and poultry stocks are concentrated. Continuous surveillance, tracing the source of live birds in the markets and integration of multifaceted strategies and global collaboration are needed to control the spread of the virus in Egypt

The Effectiveness of a Suggested E-learning Program Using Keeler’s Strategy to Build a Basic Model for a Girl’s Dress in an Innovative Way

The process of preparing patterns is considered one of the most accurate and important jobs on which the ready-made garment industry relies, as the success of the design and production depends entirely on it. Children’s patterns are among the most important types of patterns, whose control and method of construction affects the comfort of the child, which calls on researchers to continuously develop ways to build these patterns. It is characterized by exactness and ease of construction and learning, and after many studies have proven the effectiveness of electronic educational and training programs with appropriate education strategies in learning to prepare patterns. The pattern, and the use of Keelers strategy to master his learning, and the research followed the descriptive approach, and the applied approach. The child achieves excellent control over the body for all sizes, according to the opinions of the arbitrators, where The value of the quality coefficient for adjusting sizes ranged between (94.13) to (95.07), which represents a high degree of acceptance (excellent), and the value of the quality coefficient for adjusting (front, side, back, sleeve) for different sizes ranged between (93.94) to (94.74), which represents A high degree of acceptance (excellent), and the evaluation of the proposed program achieved an excellent evaluation according to the opinions, achieving the arithmetic mean (4.93), and the relative weight (98.67). Finally, the training program achieved a significant impact on the level of knowledge and skill achievement of the trainees

Effect of monoethanolamine concentration on CO2 capture by poly (chloromethyl styrene) grafted fibrous adsorbent

The CO2 adsorption performance of poly (chloromethyl styrene) (PCMS) grafted on polyethylene coated polypropylene (PE/PP) fibrous polymer substrate and followed by amination with monoethanolamine (MEA) was investigated using gravimetric sorption system. The chemical, structural and morphological changes in the aminated adsorbents were evaluated using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD), respectively. The amination was carried out using three different compositions of MEA (50, 80 and 100%) diluted in water to optimize the yield of loaded amine. The highest percent of amination obtained was about 71% and the amine content increase with the rise in MEA concentration. The CO2 adsorption capacity increase with MEA concentration with the highest capacity recorded was1.63 mmol/g with pure CO2 gas at 30 bars and room temperature

New perspectives in human stem cell therapeutic research

Human stem cells are in evaluation in clinical stem cell trials, primarily as autologous bone marrow studies, autologous and allogenic mesenchymal stem cell trials, and some allogenic neural stem cell transplantation projects. Safety and efficacy are being addressed for a number of disease state applications. There is considerable data supporting safety of bone marrow and mesenchymal stem cell transplants but the efficacy data are variable and of mixed benefit. Mechanisms of action of many of these cells are unknown and this raises the concern of unpredictable results in the future. Nevertheless there is considerable optimism that immune suppression and anti-inflammatory properties of mesenchymal stem cells will be of benefit for many conditions such as graft versus host disease, solid organ transplants and pulmonary fibrosis. Where bone marrow and mesenchymal stem cells are being studied for heart disease, stroke and other neurodegenerative disorders, again progress is mixed and mostly without significant benefit. However, correction of multiple sclerosis, at least in the short term is encouraging. Clinical trials on the use of embryonic stem cell derivatives for spinal injury and macular degeneration are beginning and a raft of other clinical trials can be expected soon, for example, the use of neural stem cells for killing inoperable glioma and embryonic stem cells for regenerating β islet cells for diabetes. The change in attitude to embryonic stem cell research with the incoming Obama administration heralds a new co-operative environment for study and evaluation of stem cell therapies. The Californian stem cell initiative (California Institute for Regenerative Medicine) has engendered global collaboration for this new medicine that will now also be supported by the US Federal Government. The active participation of governments, academia, biotechnology, pharmaceutical companies, and private investment is a powerful consortium for advances in health

Impaired Cell Surface Expression of HLA-B Antigens on Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Muscle Cell Progenitors

HLA class-I expression is weak in embryonic stem cells but increases rapidly during lineage progression. It is unknown whether all three classical HLA class-I antigens follow the same developmental program. In the present study, we investigated allele-specific expression of HLA-A, -B, and -C at the mRNA and protein levels on human mesenchymal stem cells from bone marrow and adipose tissue as well as striated muscle satellite cells and lymphocytes. Using multicolour flow cytometry, we found high cell surface expression of HLA-A on all stem cells and PBMC examined. Surprisingly, HLA-B was either undetectable or very weakly expressed on all stem cells protecting them from complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC) using relevant human anti-B and anti-Cw sera. IFNγ stimulation for 48–72 h was required to induce full HLA–B protein expression. Quantitative real-time RT-PCR showed that IFNγ induced a 9–42 fold increase of all six HLA-A,-B,-C gene transcripts. Interestingly, prior to stimulation, gene transcripts for all but two alleles were present in similar amounts suggesting that post-transcriptional mechanisms regulate the constitutive expression of HLA-A,-B, and -C. Locus-restricted expression of HLA-A, -B and -C challenges our current understanding of the function of these molecules as regulators of CD8+ T-cell and NK-cell function and should lead to further inquiries into their expression on other cell types

The HOXB4 Homeoprotein Promotes the Ex Vivo Enrichment of Functional Human Embryonic Stem Cell-Derived NK Cells

Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) can be induced to differentiate into blood cells using either co-culture with stromal cells or following human embryoid bodies (hEBs) formation. It is now well established that the HOXB4 homeoprotein promotes the expansion of human adult hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) but also myeloid and lymphoid progenitors. However, the role of HOXB4 in the development of hematopoietic cells from hESCs and particularly in the generation of hESC-derived NK-progenitor cells remains elusive. Based on the ability of HOXB4 to passively enter hematopoietic cells in a system that comprises a co-culture with the MS-5/SP-HOXB4 stromal cells, we provide evidence that HOXB4 delivery promotes the enrichment of hEB-derived precursors that could differentiate into fully mature and functional NK. These hEB-derived NK cells enriched by HOXB4 were characterized according to their CMH class I receptor expression, their cytotoxic arsenal, their expression of IFNγ and CD107a after stimulation and their lytic activity. Furthermore our study provides new insights into the gene expression profile of hEB-derived cells exposed to HOXB4 and shows the emergence of CD34+CD45RA+ precursors from hEBs indicating the lymphoid specification of hESC-derived hematopoietic precursors. Altogether, our results outline the effects of HOXB4 in combination with stromal cells in the development of NK cells from hESCs and suggest the potential use of HOXB4 protein for NK-cell enrichment from pluripotent stem cells