Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids: Their potential role in blood pressure prevention and management

Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) from fish and fish oils appear to protect against coronary heart disease: their dietary intake is in fact inversely associated to cardiovascular disease morbidity/mortality in population studies. Recent evidence suggests that at least part of their heart protective effect is mediated by a relatively small but significant decrease in blood pressure level. In fact, omega-3 PUFAs exhibit wide-ranging biological actions that include regulating both vasomotor tone and renal sodium excretion, partly competing with omega-6 PUFAs for common metabolic enzymes and thereby decreasing the production of vasocostrincting rather than vasodilating and anti-inflammatory eicosanoids. PUFAs also reduce angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) activity, angiotensin II formation, TGF-beta expression, enhance eNO generation and activate the parasympathetic nervous system. The final result is improved vasodilation and arterial compliance of both small and large arteries. Preliminary clinical trials involving dyslipidemic patients, diabetics and elderly subjects, as well as normotensive and hypertensive subjects confirm this working hypothesis. Future research will clarify if PUFA supplementation could improve the antihypertensive action of specific blood pressure lowering drug classes and of statins

Cotton in the new millennium: advances, economics, perceptions and problems

Cotton is the most significant natural fibre and has been a preferred choice of the textile industry and consumers since the industrial revolution began. The share of man-made fibres, both regenerated and synthetic fibres, has grown considerably in recent times but cotton production has also been on the rise and accounts for about half of the fibres used for apparel and textile goods. To cotton’s advantage, the premium attached to the presence of cotton fibre and the general positive consumer perception is well established, however, compared to commodity man-made fibres and high performance fibres, cotton has limitations in terms of its mechanical properties but can help to overcome moisture management issues that arise with performance apparel during active wear. This issue of Textile Progress aims to: i. Report on advances in cotton cultivation and processing as well as improvements to conventional cotton cultivation and ginning. The processing of cotton in the textile industry from fibre to finished fabric, cotton and its blends, and their applications in technical textiles are also covered. ii. Explore the economic impact of cotton in different parts of the world including an overview of global cotton trade. iii. Examine the environmental perception of cotton fibre and efforts in organic and genetically-modified (GM) cotton production. The topic of naturally-coloured cotton, post-consumer waste is covered and the environmental impacts of cotton cultivation and processing are discussed. Hazardous effects of cultivation, such as the extensive use of pesticides, insecticides and irrigation with fresh water, and consequences of the use of GM cotton and cotton fibres in general on the climate are summarised and the effects of cotton processing on workers are addressed. The potential hazards during cotton cultivation, processing and use are also included. iv. Examine how the properties of cotton textiles can be enhanced, for example, by improving wrinkle recovery and reducing the flammability of cotton fibre

Evaluation of Electroless Nickel Poly alloys for Drilling of CFRP

Today even though composites have wide range of applications in aerospace and other industries, machining of composites is still considered to be a difficult task. In this study, efforts are made to reduce drill bit wear characteristics during machining of CFRP composite. Electroless coating method is used to coat nano-crystalline ternary Ni-W-P coating on HSS drill bits of diameter 7mm, to carry out drilling operations on CFRP. The coatings are characterised by their morphology, composition, structure, phase transformation behaviour and nano-hardness. By subsequent pre-treatment steps, Ni-W-P coatings are adhered on HSS drill bits and coarse nodular structures were observed upon surface testing by using FESEM. About 14.5 weight of W, 5.41 weight of P with balance of Ni was observed in the compositional analysis of the deposit carried out by EDAX. With constant feed and speed, drilling operation carried out on CFRP plate of thickness 2.5 mm and drill bit characteristics were evaluated. HSS drill bits of type uncoated, Ni-W-P coated and heat treated were used for drilling CFRP plate. Drill bits tool wear were examined by using Tool Makers Microscope. The drilling operation is carried out to drill 100 holes on CFRP plate by all types of drill bits and the drill bits were examined at every 20 intervals of drilling. It was found that Ni-W-P coated drill bits have shown about 60 reduction (0.2mm less) in chisel edge wear, about 40 (0.1mm) lower wear on cutting edge and about 60 (0.5mm) less wear on flank surface compared to uncoated and heat treated drill bits. Based on the results obtained in this study, electroless ternary Ni-W-P coating seems to be most likely material which enhances the tool life and gives better quality machining. Selection and Peer-review under responsibility of Advanced Materials, Manufacturing, Management and Thermal Science (AMMMT 2016)