Moisture management finish on woven fabrics

Moisture management behaviour of four different woven fabrics, such as cotton, polyester/cotton blend, microdenierpolyester and nylon, has been studied. A wetting agent of ethoxylated alcohol blend and moisture management finishingagents, such as amino silicone polyether copolymer and hydrophilic polymer, have been prepared and used. Moisturemanagement finishes with wetting agent and without wetting agent are imparted onto woven fabrics. The effect of moisturemanagement finishing process parameters on the comfort properties of woven fabrics has been studied. The optimization ofcomfort level by varying the moisture management finishing process parameters in order to achieve suitability for makingsports wear is done. It is found that the type of fibre and linear density of yarn affect the comfort properties of woven fabricswhich include wicking, wetting, water absorbency and moisture vapour transmission characteristics. Based on the testresults, microdenier polyester fabrics and cotton fabrics exhibit good wicking, wetting and water absorbency characteristicsthan the polyester/cotton blend and nylon. It is found that the combination of ethoxylated alcohol (wetting agent) and therecipe containing amino silicone polyether copolymer and hydrophilic polymer in the ratio of 1:2 with pH of 5.5 at 600-700 Ctemperature is the optimum finishing process than the other two combinations so as to attain better comfort propertiesfor sportswear

Moisture management finish on woven fabrics

486-491Moisture management behaviour of four different woven fabrics, such as cotton, polyester/cotton blend, microdenier polyester and nylon, has been studied. A wetting agent of ethoxylated alcohol blend and moisture management finishing agents, such as amino silicone polyether copolymer and hydrophilic polymer, have been prepared and used. Moisture management finishes with wetting agent and without wetting agent are imparted onto woven fabrics. The effect of moisture management finishing process parameters on the comfort properties of woven fabrics has been studied. The optimization of comfort level by varying the moisture management finishing process parameters in order to achieve suitability for making sports wear is done. It is found that the type of fibre and linear density of yarn affect the comfort properties of woven fabrics which include wicking, wetting, water absorbency and moisture vapour transmission characteristics. Based on the test results, microdenier polyester fabrics and cotton fabrics exhibit good wicking, wetting and water absorbency characteristics than the polyester/cotton blend and nylon. It is found that the combination of ethoxylated alcohol (wetting agent) and the recipe containing amino silicone polyether copolymer and hydrophilic polymer in the ratio of 1:2 with pH of 5.5 at 600-700 C temperature is the optimum finishing process than the other two combinations so as to attain better comfort properties for sportswear

Comfort properties of moisture management finished bi-layer knitted fabrics: Part II - Moisture Management

Moisture management properties of six samples of bi-layer fabrics have been determined after optimised finish and their statistical analysis is done. It is found that the finished fabrics show better properties than those of unfinished fabrics. The bi-layer fabric structure along with the application of optimized moisture management finish makes the fabric more suitable for sportswear, exhibiting excellent moisture management properties in terms of wetting radius, absorption rate, wetting time and spreading speed of sweat. The results indicate that, the inner and outer microdenier polyester fabrics show better moisture management property, offering high levels of comfort, and hence are preferred during summer for active and sportswear due to the appreciable wetting radius, as well as good absorption rate, wetting time and well spreading speed of sweat.

Vishwamitri: A River and its Reign

In response to the degraded condition of the Vishwamitri River, the Vadodara Municipal Corporation (Vadodara, India) commissioned HCP Design, Planning, and Management Pvt. Ltd. to develop a riverfront design. The resulting proposal, the Vishwamitri Riverfront Development Project (VRDP), intends to mitigate flooding, prevent human-wildlife conflict with crocodiles, increase water quality, and create opportunities for economic development. Since its release in 2014, however, the VRDP has received criticism from numerous NGOs, community activists, and local academics due to the negative environmental and social impacts. In collaboration with the ASP Foundation, a local stakeholder and VRDP critic, our interdisciplinary team of ecologists, landscape architects, and policy students, including a resident of Vadodara, developed an alternative design framework. To envision a nuanced, holistic future for the river, we first critiqued the VRDP based on current, peer-reviewed literature, regional and global trends in river development, and previous criticisms presented by stakeholders. After identifying overarching criticisms and a two month field visit to Vadodara, we crafted a plausible design framework for the Vishwamitri River that responds critically, creatively, and specifically to the human and ecological needs of Vadodara and the wider watershed context. In light of the growing body of knowledge in urban ecology, urban stormwater management, and watershed dynamics in India and beyond, in addition to local sentiments on the river’s identity and cultural importance, our work articulates a vision of complementary dynamism between Vadodara and the Vishwamitri. This vision will be used by our client as a starting point for a fully-developed alternative to the VRDP.Master of Science Master of Landscape ArchitectureNatural Resources and EnvironmentUniversity of Michiganhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/136595/1/313_VishwamitriARiverAndItsReign_compressed.pd

Anti-Atherosclerotic And Anti-Inflammatory Actions Of Sesame Oil

Atherosclerosis, a major form of cardiovascular disease, has now been recognized as a chronic inflammatory disease. Nonpharmacological means of treating chronic diseases have gained attention recently. We previously reported that sesame oil has anti-Atherosclerotic properties. In this study, we have determined the mechanisms by which sesame oil might modulate atherosclerosis by identifying genes and inflammatory markers. Low-density lipoprotein receptor knockout (LDLR-/-) female mice were fed with either an atherogenic diet or an atherogenic diet reformulated with sesame oil (sesame oil diet). Plasma lipids and atherosclerotic lesions were quantified after 3 months of feeding. Plasma samples were used for cytokine analysis. RNA was extracted from the liver tissue and used for global gene arrays. The sesame oil diet significantly reduced atherosclerotic lesions, plasma cholesterol, triglyceride, and LDL cholesterol levels in LDLR-/- mice. Plasma inflammatory cytokines, such as MCP-1, RANTES, IL-1α, IL-6, and CXCL-16, were significantly reduced, demonstrating an anti-inflammatory property of sesame oil. Gene array analysis showed that sesame oil induced many genes, including ABCA1, ABCA2, APOE, LCAT, and CYP7A1, which are involved in cholesterol metabolism and reverse cholesterol transport. In conclusion, our studies suggest that a sesame oil-enriched diet could be an effective nonpharmacological treatment for atherosclerosis by controlling inflammation and regulating lipid metabolism

Cationic Peptides Neutralize Ox-Ldl, Prevent Its Uptake By Macrophages, And Attenuate Inflammatory Response

Objective: Apolipoprotein A1 (ApoA1) and apolipoprotein E (ApoE) mimetic peptides have attracted attention due to their ability to reduce atherosclerosis and exhibit antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and hypolipidemic properties. In this study, we tested whether three distinct and unrelated cationic peptides would inhibit the oxidation of lipoproteins and whether they would counteract and neutralize the negatively charged modified lipoproteins, inhibit their uptake and inflammation by macrophages. Methods and results: 5F-mimetic peptide of ApoA1, LL27 derived from the anti-microbial peptide hCAP, and a human glycodelin derived peptide were commercially synthesized. We noted that these three distinct cationic lysine-rich peptides, two of which were unrelated to any known apolipoproteins, inhibited copper-mediated oxidation of lipoproteins and reduced lipid peroxides in a lysine dependent manner. The peptides also retarded the electrophoretic mobility of previously oxidized LDL and acetylated LDL by virtue of their net positive charge. Pre-incubation of peptides with modified lipoproteins reduced the uptake of the latter by macrophages, thus preventing the formation of foam cells. The cationic peptides inhibited oxidized LDL (Ox-LDL)-induced inflammatory response both invitro and invivo. Conclusion: Based on these results, we suggest that in addition to the well known mimetic peptides, other suitable cationic peptides may be of use for controlling Ox-LDL mediated inflammation and atherosclerotic progression. © 2014 Elsevier Ireland Ltd

Anti-Inflammatory And Antioxidant Activities Of The Nonlipid (Aqueous) Components Of Sesame Oil: Potential Use In Atherosclerosis

Dietary intervention to prevent inflammation and atherosclerosis has been a major focus in recent years. We previously reported that sesame oil (SO) was effective in inhibiting atherosclerosis in low-density lipoprotein-receptor negative mice. We also noted that the levels of many proinflammatory markers were lower in the SO-treated animals. In this study we tested whether the non-lipid, aqueous components associated with SO would have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. Polymerase chain reaction array data indicated that sesame oil aqueous extract (SOAE) was effective in reducing lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation in RAW 264.7 macrophage cells. Expression of inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-1α, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) was also analyzed independently in cells pretreated with SOAE followed by inflammatory assault. Effect of SOAE on TNF-α-induced MCP-1 and VCAM1 expression was also tested in human umbilical vein endothelial cells. We observed that SOAE significantly reduced inflammatory markers in both macrophages and endothelial cells in a concentration-dependent manner. SOAE was also effective in inhibiting LPS-induced TNF-α and IL-6 levels in vivo at different concentrations. We also noted that in the presence of SOAE, transcription and translocation of NF-kappaB was suppressed. SOAE was also effective in inhibiting oxidation of lipoproteins in vitro. These results suggest the presence of potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant compounds in SOAE. Furthermore, SOAE differentially regulated expression of scavenger receptors and increased ATP-binding cassette A1 (ABCA1) mRNA expression by activating liver X receptors (LXRs), suggesting additional effects on lipid metabolism. Thus, SOAE appears multipotent and may serve as a valuable nonpharmacological agent in atherosclerosis and other inflammatory diseases

Comfort properties of moisture management finished bi-layer knitted fabrics: Part II - Moisture Management

344-349Moisture management properties of six samples of bi-layer fabrics have been determined after optimised finish and their statistical analysis is done. It is found that the finished fabrics show better properties than those of unfinished fabrics. The bi-layer fabric structure along with the application of optimized moisture management finish makes the fabric more suitable for sportswear, exhibiting excellent moisture management properties in terms of wetting radius, absorption rate, wetting time and spreading speed of sweat. The results indicate that, the inner and outer microdenier polyester fabrics show better moisture management property, offering high levels of comfort, and hence are preferred during summer for active and sportswear due to the appreciable wetting radius, as well as good absorption rate, wetting time and well spreading speed of sweat

Aspirin May Promote Mitochondrial Biogenesis Via The Production Of Hydrogen Peroxide And The Induction Of Sirtuin1/Pgc-1Α Genes

Based on the rapid hydrolysis of acetyl salicylic acid (ASA, Aspirin) to salicylic acid (SA), the ability of SA to form dihydroxy benzoic acid (DBA), and the latter\u27s redox reactions to yield hydrogen peroxide (H2O 2), we predicted that ASA may have the potential to induce Sirtuin1 (Sirt1) and its downstream effects. We observed that treatment of cultured liver cells with ASA resulted in the induction of Sirt1, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma co-activator-1α (PGC-1α), and NAD(P)H quinone oxidoreductase 1 (Nqo1) genes. Paraoxonase 1 (PON1) and Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) siRNA transfections inhibited the induction of gene expressions by ASA suggesting the need for the acetyl ester hydrolysis and hydroxylation to DHBA. The latter also induced Sirt1, confirming the proposed pathway. As predicted, ASA and SA treatment resulted in the production of H 2O2, a known inducer of Sirt1 and confirmed in the current studies. More importantly, ASA treatment resulted in an increase in mitochondria as seen by tracking dyes. We suggest that DHBA, generated from ASA, via its oxidation/reduction reactions mediated by Nqo1 might be involved in the production of O2-. and H2O2. As Sirt1 and PGC-1α profoundly affect mitochondrial metabolism and energy utilization, ASA may have therapeutic potential beyond its ability to inhibit cyclooxygenases. © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved