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A Review of Fatigue Performance of Fiber Mixture with Concrete
No full textThe fatigue performance of fiber reinforced concrete is a research hotspot in the field of civil engineering. This paper systematically reviews the related research. The fatigue performance of fiber reinforced concrete is different from that of ordinary concrete because the internal structure is changed by the addition of fiber. Different kinds of fibers have different effects on fatigue performance. Steel fiber can enhance the toughness of the matrix, effectively hinder crack propagation, and significantly improve the fatigue life. Synthetic fibers have obvious effects in inhibiting early microcracks, and the mixed use of the two will produce complementary phenomena. Among them, steel fiber has the greatest improvement in the mechanical properties of concrete, with an average increase of 30.5%-41.7%. Glass fiber and synthetic fiber have improved the mechanical properties of concrete, with an increase of 10.5%-14.6%. Among them, the improvement of mixed fiber is significantly higher than that of single fiber and the mechanical properties are improved by about 45%-59.2%. The existing research mostly focuses on experimental analysis, numerical simulation is relatively less, and the research on long-term fatigue performance in practical engineering applications is still insufficient. In the future, it is necessary to strengthen multi-scale research, improve numerical models, and deeply explore its fatigue behavior in complex environments, so as to provide more solid theoretical support for engineering applications
Eco-Friendly Innovations in Textile Dyeing: A Comprehensive Review of Natural Dyes
No full textNatural dyes have garnered increasing attention in recent years due to their environmentally friendly properties and cultural significance. The reintroduction of natural dyes in the textile industry is largely driven by growing awareness of the adverse environmental impacts of synthetic dyes. This review aims to explore the historical significance, extraction processes, mordanting techniques, and recent advancements in natural dyeing, as well as the challenges associated with their use. By incorporating insights from various studies and reviews, this paper provides a comprehensive understanding of the potential and limitations of natural dyes in textile dyeing
Design and In silico Validation of Primers for Assessing Gene Expression in the Canonical Inflammatory Pathway
No full textAims: This study aimed to design and validate primers to investigate the expression of key genes of the canonical inflammation pathway, specifically NEMO (NF-kappaB Essential Modulator), MyD88 and IL-1β, in order to ensure feasibility, specificity and efficiency for use in RT-qPCR.
Study Design: This is an experimental study aimed at the design and validation of primers using in silico strategies.
Methodology: FASTA sequences for key genes of the canonical inflammation pathway were obtained from the NCBI database and open reading frames (ORFs) were identified using the ORF Finder tool, while conserved domains were annotated using the NCBI conserved domains database. Primers were designed using OligoPerfect Primer Designer (ThermoFisher) based on parameters such as primer length (18–22 bp), GC content (40–60%) and melting temperature (57–63 °C). The primers were further validated in silico using OligoAnalyzer (IDTDNA) to assess their thermodynamic properties, such as hairpin formation and self-dimers, as well as confirmation of specificity by NCBI BLAST analysis.
Results: The designed primers exhibited optimal characteristics for gene amplification by PCR, including hairpin formation temperatures between 35.4°C and 49.5°C and melting temperatures above 63°C. The amplicons ranged from 88 to 136 bp, which is considered an acceptable standard for qPCR analysis. Pairwise analysis on the NCBI BLAST platform confirmed species specificity for Mus musculus, with the genes of interest showing additional compatibility with Rattus norvegicus in two (Myd88 and IL 1β) of the three primers. These findings support the applicability of the primers to detect and quantify transcripts of key genes of the canonical inflammatory pathway in tissue from laboratory animal specimens.
Conclusion: The validated primers provide the possibility for the amplification and quantification of key genes in the canonical inflammation pathway. This methodology ensures sensitivity and specificity for gene expression studies in the Mus Muscullus animal model, supporting future experimental applications in preclinical models of inflammation and autoimmunity
Research Status of Products Made from All-solid Waste Cementitious Materials with CO₂ Mineralization Curing
No full textCarbon dioxide capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) technology is regarded as the most effective method to control anthropogenic carbon emissions and mitigate climate change at present. And the CO₂ obtained by industrial carbon capture technology urgently needs subsequent utilization technologies with large scale and good economic benefits. The CO₂ mineralization curing building material technology can achieve carbon sequestration through the direct gas-solid reaction between the concrete material after early-stage molding and CO₂. It is expected to achieve large-scale greenhouse gas emission reduction and obtain low-carbon building materials products with high added value at the same time. In particular, using CO₂ to mineralize and cure concrete building materials and replacing the existing high-energy-consuming steam curing or natural curing process can shorten the curing time, reduce production energy consumption, and optimize the performance of building materials. At present, the mineralization curing technology is still in the stage of mechanism research and material development. There is a lack of optimized design of mineralization raw materials, and there is also a lack of comprehensive and in-depth research on the micro reaction mechanism. Aiming at the existing problems of the mineralization curing technology, this paper, starting from the perspective of the mineralization process, deeply explores the influencing factors and the shaping effect on the microstructure, and finally clarifies the correlation mechanism among the mineralization reaction process, the change of the microstructure, the optimization of the macroscopic service performance, and the environmental benefits
A Review of Structural Damage Identification Research
No full textConducting damage identification and detection of engineering structures can help to identify the location of structural damage and assess the extent of the damage, providing a basis for the reinforcement and repair of the structures. This ensures the normal operation of engineering structures and, in turn, protects people\u27s lives and property. Therefore, the research on structural damage identification methods has always been an important research topic in the field of civil engineering. The existing damage identification methods can be roughly classified into the following categories: damage identification based on structural dynamic response, structural damage identification based on model updating techniques, and structural damage identification based on artificial intelligence methods. This paper reviews the development history of existing methods, expounds on several common damage identification methods and their advantages and disadvantages, and makes a prospect for the development of structural damage identification methods according to the current research status at home and abroad. It can provide a reference for the research and application of damage identification methods
Isolation, Characterization, and Comparative Biodegradation Efficiency of Oil-degrading Bacteria from Oil-contaminated Environments
No full textSoil is an important component of the ecosystem which supports life and provides an avenue for crops to grow. It harbors water bodies, holds important mineral resources, elements and supplements that help plants to grow and flourish. Pollution caused by petroleum hydrocarbons (PHs) and its derivatives significantly affect soil and its properties causing great health risks to animals and humans. Several remediation methods had been explored and were continuously used to mitigate the effects caused by different pollutants. These methods such as biostimulation and bioaugmentation merely enrich autochthonous microorganisms. However, traditional remediation methods have proven to be inadequate in completely mitigating pollution leading to growing interest in finding strategies more effective and sustainable. This study compares the efficiency of isolated species against different petroleum hydrocarbon products at successive intervals and establishes more efficient degradation specie at each time interval for each product. The present study results revealed that Streptococcus spp was more efficient for petrol and diesel with efficiency degradation of 96.93% and 83.10% respectively. Pseudomonas spp was found to be the most efficient degrader of engine oil with efficiency degradation of 83.56%. The future direction of researches should focus on identifying the functional genes and pathways enabling these bacterial species to perform degradation process coupled with using the current advancements such as nanotechnology, metagenomics, metabolomics, and genetic engineering to improve the efficiency of the degradation process, reducing the time period of the degradation and also reducing the possibility of the production of more harmful/recalcitrant byproducts by the degradation bacteria
Unravelling Asthma Misconception: An Experience from Katsina, North-Western Nigeria
No full textBackground: Asthma remains uncontrolled in many patients and a possible explanation for these increased morbidities includes poor understanding of asthma, nonadherence to inhaled steroid regimens, and poor inhaler technique. Poor knowledge and high levels of misconceptions about the disease remain the bane in reducing its burden globally.
Aim: This study aimed to assess the level of misconception about asthma among the participants of the 2023 World Asthma Day in Katsina.
Methods: The study was a cross-sectional descriptive design conducted among three hundred and twelve consenting residents during the 2023 World Asthma Day. The study obtained data using interviewer-administered questionnaires in two sections. Data analysis was done using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 25.
Results: A total of 312 individuals participated in this study with a mean age of 35.73 ± 13.08. Of these, 59.6% (n=186) had low misconceptions about asthma, 40.4% (n=126) had moderate and none of the respondents had high misconceptions about asthma. Participants with low misconception were higher across age groups (>55%). The association between misconception, educational status, and ethnicity (p-value = <0.001) was statistically significant. An association was also found with the participant’s family asthma status, p-value = 0.002.
Conclusion: The findings suggest that the level of knowledge of asthma, symptoms and triggers is fair among the participants due to overall moderate levels of misconception. Continuous effort is further advocated towards public awareness and re-education of the populace to improve their knowledge of asthma for good treatment outcomes
Environmental Effects of Paddy Straw Burning: Farmer Satisfaction and Practices by Land Size in Punjab
No full textIn Punjab, India, a vital rice-wheat region generating 20 million tons of paddy straw each year, burning this residue creates substantial environmental issues, emitting pollutants such as PM2.5 and CO2 that impair air quality and soil vitality while exacerbating climate change. Here, farmers, categorized as marginal, small, semi-medium, medium, and large, encounter socioeconomic constraints that fuel this practice, highlighting the need to investigate their satisfaction and management approaches to develop sustainable solutions. This study surveyed 60 farmers across Fatehgarh Sahib and Rupnagar districts using face-to-face interviews to collect data on management practices–-incorporation, mixing straw into soil to enhance fertility; burning, setting straw ablaze to clear fields; baling, compressing straw into bundles for removal or use; cattle feed, using straw as livestock fodder; mulching, spreading straw over soil to retain moisture. This study surveyed 60 farmers across Fatehgarh Sahib and Rupnagar districts using face-to-face interviews to collect data on management practices. Results show 53.3% of farmers use incorporation, 28.3% burn straw, and 18.3% use baling. Marginal farmers favor burning, large farmers lean toward incorporation, and show higher awareness, while small and semi-medium/medium farmers vary. Machinery awareness is 80%, but adoption lags due to costs. The study reveals marginal farmers burn due to necessity and low awareness, while large farmers adopt sustainable methods, reflecting resource disparities, with small and semi-medium farmers showing mixed practices, highlighting the need for targeted interventions, subsidies for machinery access and comprehensive education, to reduce burning’s ecological toll and support Punjab’s shift toward sustainable straw management tailored to its diverse agrarian context
Prevalence and Patterns of Non-Strabismic Binocular Vision Anomalies in Young Adults with Hypermetropia: A Clinical Cross-Sectional Study
No full textAim: To assess the Prevalence and Patterns of Non-Strabismic Binocular Vision Anomalies in Young Adults with Hypermetropia.
Methodology: This prospective, cross-sectional study was conducted among 145 hyperopic patients in the age group 18-30 years visiting tertiary eye hospital between Jan 2024 and July 2024. The comprehensive eye examination followed by binocular vision assessment was performed on all the recruited subjects. Diagnosis of non strabismic binocular vision anomalies was made on the basis of normative data and diagnostic criteria mentioned in the Scheiman and Wicks findings. Data was analyzed using SPSS 23.0.
Results: The prevalence of non strabismic binocular vision anomalies was 46.91% among hyperopic patients. Commonest form of non strabismic binocular vision anomalies was accommodative excess (30.88%) followed by convergence insufficiency (22.06%), accommodative excess with convergence insufficiency (19.11%), convergence excess (14.70%) and accommodative insufficiency (13.23%) respectively.
Conclusion: Findings of the current study revealed that non strabismic binocular vision anomalies are linked with the hypermetropia. So, it is crucial to assess the status of accommodation and vergence while prescribing the correction for hypermetropia in order to provide the appropriate correction and ultimately improve visual functioning of eye
Efficacy of Some Insecticides on Different Larval Instars of Spodoptera litura (Fab.) under Laboratory Condition
No full textSpodoptera litura (Fab.) is a severe agricultural insect pest causing significant damage across a wide range of crops. This research aimed to determine the effect of some insecticides on different larval stages of this pest using several insecticides dosages at three distinct schedules (8h, 16h, and 24h) during the third larval stage. The mortality rate peaked after 24 hours, while the lowest rate was documented to have occurred 8 hours following insecticide treatment. After 8 hours, the highest death rate (15%) was recorded by spraying Virtako 40WG solution (thiamethoxam + chlorantraniliprole) at 0.2 g/liter of water, followed by 12.5% in Nitro 505EC solution (cypermethrin + chlorpyrifos) treated larvae at 2.0 ml/liter of water. After 24 hours of insecticide treatment, spraying with Nitro 505 EC solution resulted in the greatest larval death percentage (92.50%) with a 428.57% increase above control, followed by Virtako 40 WG solution (90.00% and 414.28%, respectively). Conclusively, Virtako 40WG and Nitro 505EC effectively controlled the immature stage of Spodoptera litura in lab conditions, which may be further trialed to validate this result