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Antibacterial properties of Aloe vera gel-finished cotton fabric
No full textIn this study cotton fabrics were finished with Aloe vera gel along with 1,2,3,4-butanetetracarboxlic acid (BTCA) as crosslinking agent using pad-dry-cure method. The Finished fabrics were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The Infrared spectra confirmed that the active ingredients of Aloe vera gel attached with the hydroxyl groups of cotton fabric via carboxylic acid cross-linking agent. The antibacterial activity of Aloe vera finished fabrics were qualitatively evaluated by AATCC-147 method and scanning electron microscope (SEM) technique. It was observed that Aloe vera gel finished fabric has much less bacterial adhesion. The Aloe vera gel finished (concentration ≥3 % (w/v)) cotton fabric inhibited the growth of both Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) and Gram-negative (Escherichia coli) bacteria. The mechanism of cell death by Aloe vera gel was evaluated using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). TEM photographs suggested that the cell death is due to the destruction of bacterial cell wall. The finished fabric was also evaluated for its performance properties such as tensile strength, crease recovery angle, bending length, etc
Factors affecting the burning behaviour of combustion modified high resilience polyurethane foams
No full textNine different flexible polyurethane foams of varying density and containing melamine and a phosphorus-based flame retardant at different concentrations have been assessed for burning behaviours using oxygen index techniques at ambient and elevated temperatures. Major foam variables influencing flammability are density and melamine flame retardant content
School and system improvement: a narrative state-of-the-art review
No full textOver the last 4 decades, the school effectiveness and school improvement research bases have gained prominence and recognition on the international stage. In both a theoretical and empirical sense, they have matured through a wide range of welldocumented projects, interventions, and innovations across a range of countries, describing how efforts to help schools become increasingly effective learning environments for the full range of their students have been more or less successful. This review presents evidence of the effects of reform efforts at the school and system levels, through articulating 5 phases:● Phase 1 – understanding the organisational culture of the school; ● Phase 2 – action research and research initiatives at the school level; ● Phase 3 – managing change and comprehensive approaches to school reform; ● Phase 4 – building capacity for student learning at the local level and the continuing emphasis on leadership; ● Phase 5 – towards systemic improvement.The review concludes by reflecting on how the phases evolve and overlap and offers 3 concluding thoughts about how to identify those levers that together provide more powerful ways to enhance the learning and achievement of our students within a systemic context
Graphene supported graphone/graphane bilayer nanostructure material for spintronics.
No full textWe report an investigation into the magnetic and electronic properties of partially hydrogenated vertically aligned few layers graphene (FLG) synthesized by microwave plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition. The FLG samples are hydrogenated at different substrate temperatures to alter the degree of hydrogenation and their depth profile. The unique morphology of the structure gives rise to a unique geometry in which graphane/graphone is supported by graphene layers in the bulk, which is very different from other widely studied structures such as one-dimensional nanoribbons. Synchrotron based x-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy measurements have been used to investigate the electronic structure and the underlying hydrogenation mechanism responsible for the magnetic properties. While ferromagnetic interactions seem to be predominant, the presence of antiferromagnetic interaction was also observed. Free spins available via the conversion of sp2 to sp3 hybridized structures, and the possibility of unpaired electrons from defects induced upon hydrogenation are thought to be likely mechanisms for the observed ferromagnetic orders
Evaluation of thermal barrier effect of ceramic microparticulate surface coatings on glass fibre-reinforced epoxy composites
No full textIn this work, three commercially available ceramic particles have been used as thermal barrier coatings on glass fibre-reinforced epoxy composites. The coatings have been prepared by dispersing 70 wt% ceramic particle in 30 wt% flame retarded epoxy resin. The thermal barrier efficiency of the coatings on the composites has been studied in terms of temperature gradient through the thickness of the sample while the surface is exposed to a radiant heat of varying heat fluxes. The tests have been performed in a cone calorimeter by inserting two thermocouples, one underneath the coating and the other on the reverse side of the sample during the experiments.This also allowed evaluating their flammability performanc
Open practices for researchers
No full textWhat are open practices and how can they help researchers? In the closing talk at the Research and Innovation Conference Brian Kelly, the Innovation Advocate at Cetis, IEC, will describe how use of open access repositories for publications and data together with use of social networks can provide benefits for (1) engaging with and developing one's professional networks; (2) maximising awareness of one's research outputs and thus, potentially, citations for the research and (3) dissemination to a wider audience.The talk will provide an opportunity for questions and discussions. In addition to the evidence of use of such approaches which Brian Kelly will provide Sarah Taylor, the Electronic Resources Librarian at The Peter Marsh Library will describe the support which the Library can provide
Evaluating the antibacterial properties of chitosan fibres embedded with copper ions for wound dressing applications
No full textChitosan is a natural polymer that is well known for its inherent antimicrobial ability and natural healing properties and hence it has been developed into fibres that are used for wound dressing applications. To increase its antimicrobial potency, these fibres are treated with copper sulphate. In a wound environment, copper ions have potent antimicrobial abilities due to their propensity to bind with proteins and ability to produce hydrogen peroxides. In this article, copper-treated chitosan fibres of different concentrations have been tested and analysed to determine the most effective antimicrobial dose for potential wound care dressings. Selected common skin microflora, i.e. Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Micrococcus luteus, have been used to test the chitosan–copper combinations. The analysis, based on the test methods of zone of inhibition, spectrophotometry and plating technique, has shown that copper concentration of 0.3 gm/ml was highly effective against the three bacteria and could potentially be most suitable formulation for wound dressing applications
An excel based design tool for end plate connections to Eurocode 3
No full textThe design of moment-resisting joints can often be a laborious task if performed by manual calculation. This leads to potential rising of unnecessary labour costs when industry approved design tool would otherwise suffice. Steel connection designers are charged with specifying joint components such as plates, welds and bolts required that have structural capacity to transmit the loads which the connection is exposed to. This said connection design and its components need to be economical with regards to cost. However, a balance needs to be reached between the over-design of the connection leading to excessive capacities, and the finite element design that provides the connection with just what it needs to resist such loads.
The aim of this paper is the description of an Excel based tool for the detailed design of bolted end plate connections between beams and columns in accordance to Eurocode 3. The design tool is practical, user friendly with minimum manual input and relatively transparent such that it provides the user with an easy step-by-step guide during the design process
Virtual placements for informatics students in open source business across Europe
No full textVALS (Virtual Alliances for Learning Society) European Project has the aim of establishing sustainable processes to build knowledge partnerships between Higher Education and companies to collaborate on resolving authentic business problems through open innovation mediated by the use of Open Source Software. To achieve this, VALS builds knowledge partnerships between Higher Education and companies who work together on resolving authentic business problems through open innovation. The innovative approach is to leverage virtual placements of informatics students in companies in order to foster entrepreneurial skills and attitudes, and to make use of the results to establish new learning and teaching methods. This results in the Semester of Code initiative, a set of methods and processes for creating and managing a real virtual placement, and for integrating this into innovative teaching and learning strategy. To show these methods and processes, this paper describes the general methodology designed to perform the Semester of Code, as well as several guidelines on how to develop the software that will support this process. Also describes a real adaptation of theoretical approach of this whole process in the case of an Academic Institution, including comprehensively all the issues affecting the process implementation in a real context