As a second skin of the human body, clothing offers protection and aesthetic qualities. Because of the inability of materials to adapt to different weather conditions, different clothing is required ...for different seasons, namely, thin and open garments for summer, thick and closed ones for winter. Moreover, the body maintains its internal core temperature (37 °C) through sweating and shivering. Herein it is reported that woolen knitwear can provide not only warmth, but also a cooling sensation when a body sweats. The fascinating water‐responsive switching (opening/closing) of the knit pores keeps the skin dry, thus helping to maintain a constant body temperature, providing comfort and safety.
Water‐actuating all‐weather woolen knitwear is demonstrated here for thermoregulation by utilizing the shape memory effect of pure descaled wool. The studied woolen knitwear provides a cooling sensation during sweating and warmth when the skin is dry. This work shows significant potential to rediscover natural fibers as smart materials.
This study investigates the relationship between energy use and economic growth by incorporating financial development, international trade and capital as important factors of production function in ...case of China over the period of 1971–2011. The ARDL bounds testing approach to cointegration was applied to examine long run relationship among the series while stationarity properties of the variables was tested by applying structural break test.
Our empirical evidence confirmed long run relationship among the variables. The results showed that energy use, financial development, capital, exports, imports and international trade have positive impact on economic growth. The Granger causality analysis revealed that unidirectional causal relationship running from energy use to economic growth. Financial development and energy use Granger cause each other. There is bidirectional causality between international trade and energy use. The feedback relation exists between financial development and international trade. There is also bidirectional causality exists between capital and energy demand, financial development and economic growth and, international trade and economic growth. This paper makes significant contribution in energy economics and opens up new direction for policy makers to explore new and alternative sources of energy which would be helpful in meeting the rising demand of energy due to sustained rate of economic growth.
•Energy consumption, financial development, capital, exports, imports and international trade add in economic growth.•Energy consumption Granger causes economic growth.•Financial development and energy consumption Granger cause each other.•There is bidirectional causality between trade and energy consumption.•The feedback relation exists between financial development and international trade.
► This review paper covers the physical, chemical properties of silica fume, and its reaction mechanism. ► It deals with permeability, corrosion, carbonation and resistance against freezing/thawing, ...sulfate, alkali-aggregate. ► Silica fume influences the thickness of transition phase in mortars and the degree of the orientation of the CH crystals. ► Addition of silica fume accelerates the hydration of cement at all stages of hydration. ► Silica fume results in significant reduction in the chloride-ion diffusion and improves the long-term corrosion resistance.
With increased environmental awareness and its potential hazardous effects, utilization of industrial byproducts has become an attractive alternative to disposal. Silica fume (SF), which is byproduct of the smelting process in the silicon and ferrosilicon industry. Silica fume is very effective in the design and development of high strength high performance concrete.
This paper covers the physical, chemical properties of silica fume, and its reaction mechanism. It deals with the effect of silica fume on the permeability, freezing and thawing resistance, corrosion, sulfate resistance, carbonation, and alkali-aggregate resistance of concrete.
•Thermal degradation of curcumin at 495 – 894 K @ 5 K min−1 occurs in two steps.•Isoconversional analysis indicates that degradation is a multistep process.•The kinetic triplets (Ea, A, g(α)) at both ...the stages were determined.•Degradation products were isolated and characterized.•Most of the degradation products were found to be more toxic than curcumin.
The objective of this work was to study kinetics of thermal degradation of curcumin in ambient–1023 K range and identify degradation products by GC–MS. No weight loss was observed up to ∼470 K and two major weight losses occurred beyond this. Sixteen degradation products were identified by GC–MS. Pharmacological properties, including LD50, LC50, gastrointestinal absorption, blood-brain barrier permeation and effect on cytochromes, of the products were calculated using standard software. The LD50 values indicated that the degradation products are more toxic than curcumin. All the decomposition products, except 2-methyl-6-(4-methylphenyl)-hept-2-en-4-one, have the potential to cross the blood–brain barrier that can affect brain functions. Twelve of the compounds showed the potential to inhibit the metabolism of xenobiotics and all the compounds appeared to be non-inhibitors of CYP2C9 and CYP3A4 in contrast to curcumin. Thus, this study suggests that the food materials containing curcumin when heated beyond 470 K will produce toxic substances.
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•Ischemic stroke triggers perivascular reactive asrocyte transfromation and BBB damage.•Selective deletion of Na+/H+ exchanger I (NHE1) in astrocytes activates Wnt/β-catenin signaling ...pathway.•Active Wnt/β-catenin signaling increases BBB integrity, and promotes cerebral vessel repair.
The role of astrocytes in dysregulation of blood-brain barrier (BBB) function following ischemic stroke is not well understood. Here, we investigate the effects of restoring the repair properties of astrocytes on the BBB after ischemic stroke. Mice deficient for NHE1, a pH-sensitive Na+/H+ exchanger 1, in astrocytes have reduced BBB permeability after ischemic stroke, increased angiogenesis and cerebral blood flow perfusion, in contrast to wild-type mice. Bulk RNA-sequencing transcriptome analysis of purified astrocytes revealed that ∼177 genes were differentially upregulated in mutant astrocytes, with Wnt7a mRNA among the top genes. Using a Wnt reporter line, we confirmed that the pathway was upregulated in cerebral vessels of mutant mice after ischemic stroke. However, administration of the Wnt/β-catenin inhibitor, XAV-939, blocked the reparative effects of Nhe1-deficient astrocytes. Thus, astrocytes lacking pH-sensitive NHE1 protein are transformed from injurious to “protective” by inducing Wnt production to promote BBB repair after ischemic stroke.
This book is an attempt to consolidate the published research related to the use of Supplementary Cementing Materials in cement and concrete. It comprises of five chapters. Each chapter is devoted to ...a particular supplementing cementing material. It is based on the literature/research findings published in journals/conference proceeding, etc. Topics covered in the book are, coal fly ash, silica fume (SF), granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS), metakaolin (MK), and rice husk ash (RHA). Each chapter contains introduction, properties of the waste material/by-product, its potential usage, and its effect on the properties of fresh and hardened concrete and other cement based materials.
The SLC12A cation-Cl
cotransporters (CCC), including NKCC1 and the KCCs, are important determinants of brain ionic homeostasis. SPAK kinase (STK39) is the CCC master regulator, which stimulates NKCC1 ...ionic influx and inhibits KCC-mediated efflux via phosphorylation at conserved, shared motifs. Upregulation of SPAK-dependent CCC phosphorylation has been implicated in several neurological diseases. Using a scaffold-hybrid strategy, we develop a novel potent and selective SPAK inhibitor, 5-chloro-N-(5-chloro-4-((4-chlorophenyl)(cyano)methyl)-2-methylphenyl)-2-hydroxybenzamide ("ZT-1a"). ZT-1a inhibits NKCC1 and stimulates KCCs by decreasing their SPAK-dependent phosphorylation. Intracerebroventricular delivery of ZT-1a decreases inflammation-induced CCC phosphorylation in the choroid plexus and reduces cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) hypersecretion in a model of post-hemorrhagic hydrocephalus. Systemically administered ZT-1a reduces ischemia-induced CCC phosphorylation, attenuates cerebral edema, protects against brain damage, and improves outcomes in a model of stroke. These results suggest ZT-1a or related compounds may be effective CCC modulators with therapeutic potential for brain disorders associated with impaired ionic homeostasis.
Fine aggregates are the main ingredients that control the success of the preparation and performance of strain-hardening cementitious composites (SHCCs). Worldwide deserts can be used as eternal ...sources of fine aggregates for the preparation of SHCCs. Arabian Peninsula desert sand spreads over the largest desert area in the world, covering an area of 2,300,000 km2 among the Arabian Gulf countries. White and dune desert sands were procured for use in this study. The morphological structure is important in selecting the appropriate sand for use in the preparation of SHCCs. The utilization of microfibers such as polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) has become common practice for the preparation of SHCCs. The presence of desert sand is proven to enhance the dispersibility of PVA due to its spherical structure, which alleviates the friction among the ingredients forming SHCCs. Two mechanisms are defined under the tensile force at the interface of microfibers and natural sand, namely, a strong frictional force leading to rupture or a weaker force causing pullout. The synergy between fibers and fine aggregate grains depends on their surface characteristics, which can be modified using different types of mineral admixtures. In this research, the alignment of microfibers as an indication of the quality of dispersion could be evaluated using a proposed approach based on an advanced technique of microstructural analysis. PVA dispersion and its relation to strain-hardening properties are visually correlated to the surface interaction of the mineral admixture and dune sand. The microdurability and cost effectiveness of SHCCs could be assessed using the proposed approach, as depicted by the results obtained in this research work.
Diazinon (
O,
O-diethyl-
O-2-isopropyl-6-methyl-4-pyrimidinyl phosphoro thioate), an organo-phosphate insecticide, has been used worldwide in agriculture and domestic for several years, which has led ...to a variety of negative effects in non target species including humans. However, its nephrotoxic effects and mechanism of action has not been fully elucidated so far. Therefore, the present study was aimed at evaluating the nephrotoxic effects of diazinon and its mechanism of action with special reference to its possible ROS generating potential in rats. Treatment of rats with diazinon significantly enhances renal lipid peroxidation which is accompanied by a decrease in the activities of renal antioxidant enzymes (e.g. catalase, glutathione peroxidise, glutathione reductase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, glutathione S-transferase) and depletion in the level of glutathione reduced. In contrast, the activities of renal γ-glutamyl transpeptidase and quinone reductase were increased. Parallel to these changes, diazinon treatment enhances renal damage as evidenced by sharp increase in blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinine. Additionally, the impairment of renal function corresponds histopathologically. In summary, our results indicate that diazinon treatment eventuates in decreased renal glutathione reduced, a fall in the activities of antioxidant enzymes including the enzymes involved in glutathione metabolism and excessive production of oxidants with concomitant renal damage, all of which are involved in the cascade of events leading to diazinon-mediated renal oxidative stress and toxicity. We concluded that in diazinon exposure, depletion of antioxidant enzymes is accompanied by induction of oxidative stress that might be beneficial in monitoring diazinon toxicity.
Different flame retardants (FRs) namely polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), emerging brominated/chlorinated flame retardants (Br/Cl FRs), and organophosphate FRs (OPFRs) were analyzed in cars, ...air conditioner (AC) filters and floor dust of different households from Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). To the best of our knowledge, this is first study in literature reporting emerging Br/Cl FRs and OPFRs in AC filter dust and also first to report on their occurrence in dust from KSA. Chlorinated alkyl phosphate, penta-BDEs, BDE-209, and decabromodiphenylethane (DBDPE) were the major chemicals in dust samples from all microenvironments. ΣOPFRs occurred at median concentrations (ng/g dust) of 15,400, 10,500, and 3750 in AC filter, car and house floor dust, respectively. For all analyzed chemicals, relatively lower levels were observed in floor dust than car and AC filter dust. The profiles of FRs in car dust were different from AC filter and floor dust, which reflected their wider application as FR and plasticizer in variety of household and commercial products. For toddlers, assuming high dust intake and 95th percentile concentrations, the computed exposure estimation for BDE-99 was higher than RfD values.
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•First study on the incidence of FRs from different micro-environments of KSA•First study in literature reporting emerging Br/Cl FRs and OPFRs in AC filter dust•Chlorinated alkyl phosphate, BDE-209, and DBDPE were major chemicals.•Lower levels were observed in house dust than those of car and AC filter dust.•Estimated risk assessment of BDE-99 for toddlers was high than the RfD values.
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