AC ionic conductivity and DC polarization method of lithium ion transport in PMMA–LiBF4 gel polymer electrolytes

AbstractPolymethylmethacrylate (PMMA)-based gel polymer electrolytes comprising ethylene carbonate–propylene carbonate (EC/PC) mixed solvent plasticizer and various concentrations of lithium tetrafluoroborate (LiBF4) salt are prepared using a solvent casting technique. Electrical conductivity and transference number measurements were carried out to investigate conductivity and charge transport in the gel polymer electrolytes. The conductivity results show that the ionic conductivity of the samples increases when the amount of salt is increased, however decreases after reaching the optimum value. This result is consistent with the transference number measurements. The conductivity–frequency dependence plots show two distinct regions; i.e. at lower frequencies the conductivity increases with increasing frequency and the frequency independent plateau region at higher frequencies. The temperature-dependence conductivity of the films seems to obey the Arrhenius rule

Polymorphism of growth hormone gene and its association with wool traits in Egyptian sheep breeds

Growth hormone (GH) gene has been described as a candidate gene for marker-assisted selection in different farm animals. The present study was designed to identify the polymorphism in GH gene and its association with variation of wool traits in Egyptian sheep breeds. Wool and blood samples were collected from 42 animals including two breeds (Barki and Rahmani) and one crossbred (Rahmani x Awase). Measurements of wool traits were analyzed and involved staple strength (Str), staple length (STL), fiber diameter (FD) and clean fleece yield (CFW). DNA was extracted from blood samples and a 365-bp fragment from exon V was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Single strand conformation polymorphisim (SSCP) analysis showed two conformational patterns. The pattern I was recorded to be more frequent (83.3, 92.86 and 90%) than pattern II (16.7, 7.14 and 10%) in Barki, Rahmani and crossbred, respectively. The sequence analysis showed one single nucleotide polymorphism (C/T). The pattern I (allele T) has been found to affect CFW and FD than pattern II (allele C). Whereas, C allele was more pronounced for Str and STL. These traits are the most important parameters determining commercial values of wool that are preferred for clothing or carpets industry. The nucleotide sequences of C and T alleles were submitted to GenBank and have the accession numbers: KT250511 and KT250512, respectively. In conclusion, the present results provide evidence that there is a single nucleotide polymorphism within GH gene in Egyptian sheep breeds. This mutation was found to have some effects on wool traits. Therefore our data show interesting prospects in future selection programs for improving wool industry.Key words: Sheep, wool, growth hormone (GH) gene, polymorphism, single strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP)

EPIdemiology of Surgery-Associated Acute Kidney Injury (EPIS-AKI) : Study protocol for a multicentre, observational trial

More than 300 million surgical procedures are performed each year. Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common complication after major surgery and is associated with adverse short-term and long-term outcomes. However, there is a large variation in the incidence of reported AKI rates. The establishment of an accurate epidemiology of surgery-associated AKI is important for healthcare policy, quality initiatives, clinical trials, as well as for improving guidelines. The objective of the Epidemiology of Surgery-associated Acute Kidney Injury (EPIS-AKI) trial is to prospectively evaluate the epidemiology of AKI after major surgery using the latest Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) consensus definition of AKI. EPIS-AKI is an international prospective, observational, multicentre cohort study including 10 000 patients undergoing major surgery who are subsequently admitted to the ICU or a similar high dependency unit. The primary endpoint is the incidence of AKI within 72 hours after surgery according to the KDIGO criteria. Secondary endpoints include use of renal replacement therapy (RRT), mortality during ICU and hospital stay, length of ICU and hospital stay and major adverse kidney events (combined endpoint consisting of persistent renal dysfunction, RRT and mortality) at day 90. Further, we will evaluate preoperative and intraoperative risk factors affecting the incidence of postoperative AKI. In an add-on analysis, we will assess urinary biomarkers for early detection of AKI. EPIS-AKI has been approved by the leading Ethics Committee of the Medical Council North Rhine-Westphalia, of the Westphalian Wilhelms-University Münster and the corresponding Ethics Committee at each participating site. Results will be disseminated widely and published in peer-reviewed journals, presented at conferences and used to design further AKI-related trials. Trial registration number NCT04165369

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

Measurement of total and spectral solar irradiance: Overview of existing research

The quantitative assessments of the solar radiation flux and the variations of its spectral distribution in the visible and near-infrared ranges of the electromagnetic spectrum are of great interest in studying solar-terrestrial influences. The reason is that the main part of the solar radiation energy is concentrated in that range and it determines the thermal equilibrium of the earth's atmosphere. This paper provides an overview of spectral global solar irradiance observations and of broadband solar irradiance observations from the ultraviolet to the near infrared. Measurements of the spectral solar irradiance in the near UV, visible and near IR were carried out by many researchers in two types of measurements; spectral global solar irradiance and broadband solar irradiance. The results from this study show that the measurement of the spectral solar radiation in the near UV, visible and near IR ranges can be made either by high precision and expensive instruments or by aid of rather simple, less precise and comparatively inexpensive broadband instrument--pyrheliometers or pyranometers in combination with glass filters. Selected narrow waveband instruments are characterized by simpler, less expensive and easy to maintain and calibrate compared to high-resolution scanning instruments.Solar Terrestrial Extraterrestrial Spectrum Broadband Visible UV Near IR

Evaluation of maximum percentage glucose conversion for dilute acid hydrolysis of kenaf biomass using statistical analysis

Kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus.L) is a crop- that produces about 70% of biomass larger than any of forest plantations. There is no specific way of using kenaf biomass in industry instead for animal feed and burning in various forms (waste in general). As a result, several researches had been conducted to utilize it in the production of biodegradable polymer as well as bioethanol. This is due to its complex cellulose content that is useful to be converted into glucose before further process. The conversion step from cellulose content of kenaf biomass into glucose is known as pretreatment process. In this paper, dilute acid hydrolysis was chosen as the pre-treatment process. With the aim to evaluate the maximum percentage of glucose conversion for this kind of pretreatment process from kenaf biomass, statistical analysis which is analysis of variance (ANOVA) design via central composite design using response surface method (RSM) was selected. Thus, the lower the mass which is at 2 g, and at higher temperature which is 180 oC in longer time which is in 60 min results about 25.33% glucose conversion with the comparison of the predicted value obtained from the experimental design

Characterization on surface modification of kenaf biomass via microbial fermentation

Kenaf is categorized as one of the natural fibre which is used as replacement to manmade fibre due to its various advantages. It is a natural fibre of low density, low cost, recyclable and biodegradable. This paper presents the surface modification of kenaf biomass in terms of its morphology, chemical properties and crystallinity, as observed under scanning electron microscope (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD), respectively. Peak at 1600 cm-1 to 1200 cm-1 FTIR shows the disappearance of lignin in the treated kenaf. On the other hand, crystallinity indexes (CI) for untreated and treated kenaf are determined by XRD that show 83.3 % and 67.7 % accordingly