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Nanocomposite Formulation of Ferulic Acid with Different Metals Using Computational Method
Get PDFFormulation of Nanoparticle – drug composite is becoming a growing field of research in today’s scientific community. In comparison to the research on the experimental methods for these formulations and their application in various fields, the study of the interaction between drug and nanoparticle is less. In this study, we are reporting about the selection of metals for the formulation of nanocomposite with ferulic acid which is a well-known bioflavonoid having different medicinal activities. Ferulic acid contains only one –OH group which may reduce the conflict of selecting the metal atom binding site. For our study, we considered twelve metals which have been reported for having the potentiality to synthesis nanoparticles. These metals are gold, silver, copper, iron, zinc, nickel, platinum, palladium, rhodium, ruthenium, cadmium, and antimony. To mimic the actual nanocomposite structure, one metal atom has interacted with two molecules of ferulic acid. All nanocomposite model structures were designed using Avogadro software for windows. It was subjected to energy minimization and O-metal-O bond angle calculation. From the energy levels, it was observed that cadmium exhibited the lowest energy level and antimony showed the highest energy level suggesting their nanocomposite model structures as the most stable and unstable formulation respectively
Knowledge of Breast Cancer and Screening Methods among Rural Women in Southwest Nigeria: A Mixed Method Analysis
Get PDFThe objective of this study was to assess the awareness of rural women on breast cancer and its screening methods in Southwest Nigeria. Descriptive cross-sectional survey design with the aid of a semi-structured questionnaire was used to generate data among 422 rural women in selected communities in Egbeda local government area of Ibadan. The qualitative data was generated through in-depth interviews among rural women and key informant interviews among health workers in the communities. The study revealed that only 63.7% were aware of breast cancer screening methods compared to 31.6% who were not aware of it. The commonly known screening method among women in the study was breast self-examination (66.7%). Some believed that breast cancer is used as a form of spiritual attack to punish women. Knowledge of breast cancer etiology was also low. The major source of information on breast cancer was radio. The study concluded that health education and programs targeting rural women should be adopted to increase their awareness of breast cancer
Analytical Investigation of the Vibrational and Dynamic Response of Nano-Composite Cylindrical Shell Under Thermal Shock and Mild Heat Field by DQM Method
Get PDFIn this paper, the vibrations and dynamic response of an orthotropic thin-walled composite cylindrical shell with epoxy graphite layers reinforced with carbon nanotubes under heat shock and heat field loading are investigated. the carbon nanotubes were uniformly distributed along the thickness of the composite layer. The problem is that at first there is a temperature change due to the thermal field in the cylinder and the cylinder is coincident with the thermal field, then the surface temperature of the cylinder rises abruptly. Partial derivative equations of motion are coupled to heat equations. The differential quadrature method (DQM) is used to solve the equations. In this study, the effects of length, temperature, thickness and radius parameters on the natural frequencies and mid-layer displacement are investigated. The results show that increasing the outside temperature reduces the natural frequency and increases the displacement of the system. Radial displacement results were also compared with previous studies and were found to be in good agreement with previous literature. Increasing the percentage of carbon nanotubes also increased the natural frequency of the system and decreased the mobility of the middle layer
Effect of Gamma- Irradiation on Structure, Morphology and Thermal Properties of Novel Polyamide Based Thermoset Obtained by Double Cycloaddition
Get PDFCycloaddition reactions gained prominence in macromolecular chemistry for generating macromolecules because of high yields of these reactions, which is a key tool that drives polyaddition reactions. Cycloaddition reaction plays major role in extension of polymerisation or in other words high conversions of monomers to macromolecules of high molecular weights. Until the late 1990s, the major studies regarding cycloadditions in novel polymer synthesis were related to polyaddition reactions. Since then in the field of polymer synthesis the affirmative strengths of these cycloaddition reactions have been exhibited in multi fold polymer design and headway material architecture. Future demand exists in unlatching the capacity of these novel synthetic routes for advanced applications in catalysis, separation, optoelectronics, and analytical media. Thus, we have developed an able and productive synthetic podium for the preparation of a new class of polyimide based on the double 1, 3-dipolar cycloaddition of thiasydnone with bis-maleimide. This paper reports the effect of gamma irradiation on the changes in physico-chemical properties of the polyamide based thermoset synthesised by double cycloaddition approach. The thermoset synthesized by this exclusive approach were irradiated with gamma doses in the range 10- 300 kGy. The substantial effect of gamma radiation and the structural modifications induced on the thermoset have been studied as a function of dose using different characterization techniques such as Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry- thermo gravimetric analysis (DSC-TGA), Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM) and UV-Vis Spectroscopy
Preliminary Evaluation of Composite Panels Produced from Rice Husk and Recycled Polystyrene Material
Get PDFRice husk particles categorised as fine (size ≤ 0.6 mm), and coarse (0.6 mm ≤ size ≤ 1.8 mm) were mixed with a binder obtained by recycling expanded polystyrene waste, to formulate composites. Formulation was carried out using different particles to binder ratios as follows: 1:1, 1:1.5, 1:2). Fine particle composites were designated F1:1, F1:1.5 and F1:2, while the coarse particle composites were designated C1:1, C1:1.5 and C1:2. The composites were casted, and some physical properties such as: dry/cure time in air (72±4 h - 168±6 h), density (0.48±0.04 g/dm3 – 2.75±0.08 g/dm3), water absorption (2.24±0.46 % - 58.91±1.11 %) and thickness swelling (1.43±0.06 % – 22.65±1.23 %), flammability tests and SEM images of the composite panels obtained were evaluated. Results showed that: dry time and density increased, water absorption and thickness swelling decreased while flammability increased (ignition time decreased and propagation rate increased), as the amount of the recycled polystyrene binder was increased in the composites. Relative to particle size aggregate, coarse particle composites exhibits shorter drying time, lower density, higher water absorption and weaker flame retardation compared to the fine composites with corresponding ratios
Characterization of Biodiesel from Alkaline Refinement of Waste Cooking Oil
Get PDFThe waste cooking oil (WCO) is a low cost and prospective feedstock with no competitive food uses for biodiesel production, but the yield and quality have been greatly affected by impurities. This study examined the chemical and fuel quality of biodiesel of both WCO and alkaline treated WCO. The transesterification process using the alkaline treated cooking oil (ACO) methanol and sodium hydroxide as catalyst followed the Association of Officials of Analytical Chemists (AOAC) techniques. The pH values between 7.27 and 8.65 were found for alkaline treated cooking methyl ester (ACME), alkaline treated cooking oil (ACO) and WCO. Density of ACME, ACO and WCO varied between 0.89 and 0.93 (g/cm3). The fatty acids found were benzoic acid (3.77%), octanoic acid (8.35%), and palmitic acid (75.02%) – most abundant. Comparison of results with the American Standard for Testing Materials (ASTM) values showed quality enhancements of ACO in physicochemical and fuel properties over WCO. The biodiesels from ACO have enhanced emulsification, fuel and free fatty acids qualities over the WCO, showing the refinement methodology of WCO has overall improvement in the biodiesel purity and quality against the previous conflicting reports
Mechanism of Organic Odor Generation from Thermophilically Digested Biosolids
Get PDFIn anticipation to generate more stabilized biosolids, thermophilic anaerobic digestion systems are widely used to destroy greater sludge organics thus making them less odorous. In this study, single-stage thermophilic (at 55 ℃) and mesophilic (at 37 ℃) anaerobic digesters were studied to compare organic removal efficiencies and sulfur-based odor generation from their biosolids. Although the thermophilic system removed about 9% more volatile solids than the mesophilic system, about 55 times more odorous organic sulfur compounds were measured from dewatered thermophilic biosolids. Different methanogenic species were found to be responsible for malodorous dewatered biosolids from the thermophilic anaerobic digester
Market Selling Conditions and Storage Methods Influences β-carotene Stability and Retention in Biofortified Gari
Get PDFThe influence of regular market selling conditions and storage methods on β-carotene stability and retention were investigated in two different biofortified gari types. Freshly processed gari samples obtained from TMS 01/1412 and TMS 01/1371 respectively were exposed to 35-450C sunlight (ESL) and 60 watts electric bulb light (EEB); stored in black polyethylene bag (SPB) and air-tight aluminum container (SAC) respectively. The stability (using area under curve analysis) and retention (%) of β-carotene in all the experiments were monitored and compared over a period of 4 weeks. Results revealed that ESL had a huge negative influence on the stability and retention of β-carotene in the two biofortified gari types. Although EEB showed minimal but progressive negative influence, SAC followed by SPB showed the least negative influence on the nutrient stability. The overall retention of β-carotene in gari processed from TMS 01/1412 and TMS 01/1371 respectively were as follows: ESL (12.1%, 12.8%), EEB (58.5%, 47.5%), SPB (61.9%, 50.8%) and SAC (60.2%, 82.6%). SAC retained the most appreciable amount of the nutrient thus suggesting it as a better form of storage while ESL lost the largest amount of the nutrient thus portraying it as a detrimental market selling condition for the biofortified gari
Effects of Chitosan and Aloe Vera Gel Coatings on the Preservation Characteristics of Cucumber Samples
Get PDFThis study evaluated the effect of Chitosan and Aloe vera gel coatings on the preservation of selected cucumber samples. Chitosan was produced from orange-crab shells with 76% degree of deacetylation while homogenized Aloe vera gel extracted from the plants was thermally pre-treated at 70 °C for 30 minutes. Coatings were applied using dipping techniques and air-dried before storage in discrete plots under ambient conditions. The study estimated physicochemical, nutritional and microbiological qualities of the coated and uncoated samples for a period of 4 weeks using standard procedures. Chitosan and Aloe vera gel had antimicrobial effect on the cucumber samples at week three while Chitosan- Aloe vera mix had more antimicrobial effect on the cucumber samples at week four of storage period. Eight bacterial and seven fungal isolates were obtained from the chitosan and Aloe vera coatings on the cucumber samples namely Aeromonas, Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Escherichia, Proteus, Klebsiella, Serratia, Enterobacter, Aspergillus, Penicillium, Fusarium, Rhizopus and, Saccharomyces; with Bacillus subtilis and Aspergillus niger as most occurring bacterial and fungal species respectively. Chitosan, Aloe vera and Chitosan-aloe vera mix coated samples had moisture content, protein content and carbohydrate retention of 95.09±0.01 %, 1.31±0.09 % and 0.46±0.14 %; 94.67±0.14 %, 0.65±0.03 % and 1.61±0.44 % ; 93.76±0.09 %, 1.27±0.66 %, and 0.69±0.51 % respectively. It can be concluded that Chitosan and Aloe vera gel coatings are effective in preservation of cucumbers with significant retention of nutrients and reduction in microbial contamination
Trained Immunity at a Glance; A Review on the Innate Immune Memory and its Potential Role in Infections, Diseases and New Therapeutic Strategies
Get PDFDespite the existence of two different branches of immunity, innate and adaptive, it has been described that both systems are characterized by the establishment of memory responses. Indeed, it has been shown that cells belonging to the innate immune system can express a so-called “trained” memory, although it has different features from the adaptive immune memory. Adaptive memory is a long-lasting specific memory whereas innate memory involves non-specific responses which enhance the immune response during a second reinfection. However, many aspects of the trained immunity are still unclear. Metabolic and epigenetic reprogramming have been pointed as the two processes responsible for the establishment of the innate memory. Trained immunity seems to be responsible for the heterologous effect of many vaccines such as BCG, thus giving insights for the development of new therapies. Although its potential beneficial role, trained immunity could also have detrimental effects that might worsen the progress of certain diseases. The purpose of this literature review is to provide an in-depth review on the major characteristics of trained immunity, describing the main pathways at the basis of the evolution and establishment of memory in innate cells. In addition, the present review assesses the modern evidence of the impact of trained immunity in health and disease, strengthening the hypotheses that this innate memory may be considered both in the formulation of new therapeutic strategies and in the current therapeutic approaches.