Multifunctional nanomaterials with controlled physicochemical structures can be advantageous for several therapeutic applications. In this study, mesoporous nanorods-like particles of cobalt doped ...hydroxyapatite (CoHAP, Ca
10−
x
Co
x
(PO
4
)
6
(OH)
2
) having varying concentrations of Co
2+
ions were hydrothermally synthesized. Nanopowders (NPs) were comprehensively studied using XRD, Rietveld, FTIR, HRTEM, EDX, BET, VSM, and UV–VIS techniques. In addition to the structural and physicochemical properties; magnetic, induction-heating, drug loading, and releasing efficiencies followed by in-vitro bioactivity attributes were also explored. Results suggested that with increasing concentration of Co
2+
ions; size and crystallinity of HAP crystals decreased, whereas, lattice strain, specific surface area, porosity, and saturation magnetization of nanorods-like mesoporous particles increased. HAP remained a chief phase with brushite as a secondary phase in CoHAP NPs. Furthermore, increased concentration of Co
2+
ions contributed to the enhanced rise in temperature with increasing magnetic field and exposure time, suitable for hyperthermia applications. In addition, the drug loading efficiency of NPs increased with increasing concentration of Co
2+
ions and also exhibited controlled drug release rate. In-vitro incubation of NPs for 30 days exhibited superior bioactivity with nucleation of bioresorbable secondary phases. Thus, the concoction of paramagnetism and induction-heating abilities with superior textural and bioactivity properties of NPs suggested their high potential for multiple applications, including tissue regeneration, hyperthermia anticancer treatment, and drug delivery systems.
Highlights
Biomagnetic nanorods-like mesoporous particles with varying concentrations of Co
2+
ions were synthesized.
With increasing concentration of Co
2+
ions; properties like lattice distortion ratio, lattice strain, particle surface area, porosity volume, and saturation magnetization increased, whereas, crystal size and crystallinity of particles decreased.
The particles with 10 wt% of Co
2+
ions exhibited hyperthermia temperature at 400 A and 5 min of exposure time.
Drug loading capacity of particles increased with increasing concentration of Co
2+
ions.
Particles exhibited superior and stable bioactivity for longer durations.
The present study was undertaken to investigate the impact of a unique combination of fillers on interfacial bond strength and moisture-induced damage potential of asphalt mastic. One asphalt binder ...(AC-30), three fillers including Basalt (B), Hydrated Lime (HL), and Nano-Hydrated lime (NHL) were selected to prepare asphalt mastics for a wide range of filler-binder (f/b) ratio (0.6 to 1.2). The dosages of HL and NHL were considered 0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20% by weight of asphalt binder, and the dosage of B filler was adjusted to meet the respective f/b ratio. The interfacial bond strength and moisture-induced damage potential of asphalt mastic specimens were determined using the Bitumen Bond Strength (BBS) test. The BBS test parameters inferred that both B-HL and B-NHL filler combinations can enhance the bond strength and moisture damage resistance of asphalt mastic. Besides, asphalt mastic composed of B-NHL filler can be less susceptible to bond failure and moisture damage with improved adhesion and cohesion properties than B-HL filler. Additionally, asphalt mastic composed of a lower percentage (10%–15%) of NHL filler showed better bond strength and moisture damage resistance over mastic composed of a higher percentage (15%–20%) of HL filler. Asphalt mastic prepared with an f/b ratio less than 1.0 was found to be suitable to achieve better performance considering the moisture-induced damage properties. Grey relational analysis (GRA) method was used to analyze the correlation degree between filler properties and moisture damage properties of asphalt mastics. Based on the GRA results, Rigden voids and specific surface area are suggested to be the two most influential properties on the moisture-induced damage potential of asphalt mastic.
•Effect of bio-oil on rheological performance of base binder and field aged RAP binder is investigated.•Use of higher percentage of bio-oil may make binder susceptible to high-temperature aging and ...improve the fatigue performance of base binder.•To explore bio-oil as a potential rejuvenator, softening point, kinematic viscosity, high-temperature PG and MSCR tests were conducted.•Bio-oil can be used as softening agent for aged binders.
The present study evaluates the effects of using bio-oil derived from waste wood biomass on physical properties, aging, fatigue and rutting performance of base binder. A base binder (Viscosity Grade VG30) was blended with 2%, 4%, 6%, 8% and 10% of bio-oil by total weight of the binder. Along with physical properties tests (penetration, softening point and viscosity), rutting and fatigue performance of the bio-oil modified binder was evaluated using multiple stress creep recovery (MSCR), and linear amplitude sweep (LAS), tests, respectively. Furthermore, the aging index was determined to observe the oxidation characteristics of bio-oil modified asphalt binder. The results showed that the blending of bio-oil increased the penetration and decreased the softening point and viscosity of the base binder. Based on Indian Standard 73:2013 specification, it was observed that blending of 2% and 4% bio-oil satisfies VG20 and VG10 binder properties, respectively. Increased percent of bio-oil modified binder showed high aging susceptibility. Addition of bio-oil decreased rutting performance, while it improved the fatigue and thermal cracking resistance. Bio-oil as a rejuvenator was explored by blending it with RAP binder. It was found that addition of bio-oil reduces viscosity and high PG of recycled asphalt pavement (RAP) binder, thus showed the potentiality to use as softener for aged binder.
Hemodialysis remains the most popular modality of renal replacement therapy for end-stage renal disease patients with chronic kidney disease. Various factors such as a radial artery, cephalic vein ...diameter, age, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus can affect the fistula maturation. This study was carried out to know the patency rates and factors affecting fistula maturation in the Indian population. This is a prospective observational study which aimed to study the patency rate of arteriovenous (AV) fistulas. On the day of surgery, patients were shifted inside the operation theater. Under all aseptic precautions, an AV fistula was formed using the radial artery and cephalic vein. All patients were followed up for 6 months. The data were analyzed using IBM SPSS version 22. To see the change over a period of time, McNemar test for categorical data and repeated measure for continuous data followed by post hoc comparison by Bonferroni method were used. The mean age of the patients was 46.98 ± 13.33 years. The mean diameter of the cephalic vein, ulnar artery, and radial artery at the wrist was 1.733 ± 0.528, 1.700 ± 0.364, and 1.908 ± 0.420, respectively, whereas the mean diameter of the cephalic vein, ulnar artery, and radial artery at the forearm was 1.952 ± 0.488, 1.910 ± 0.421, and 2.058 ± 0.458, respectively. Immediate thrill after the surgery was present in 36/52 (69.2%) of the patients. The radial artery diameter at the wrist was significantly less in the patients with primary failure in whom immediate thrill was not present (P = 0.016). At 1-month follow-up, 30/49 (61.2%) and, at 6 months, 29/48 (60.4%) fistulas were functional. Radiocephalic AV fistulas have a reasonable success rate and minimal morbidity, and radial artery diameter is a good predictor of the outcome.
We prospectively studied the frequency, spectrum, and predictors of gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms among patients with coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) and the relationship between GI symptoms and ...the severity and outcome.
Consecutive patients with COVID-19, diagnosed in a university hospital referral laboratory in northern India, were evaluated for clinical manifestations including GI symptoms, their predictors, and the relationship between the presence of these symptoms, disease severity, and outcome on univariate and multivariate analyses.
Of 16,317 subjects tested for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) RNA in their oropharyngeal and nasopharyngeal swabs during April-May 2020, 252 (1.5%) were positive. Of them, 208 (82.5%) were asymptomatic; of the 44 symptomatic patients, 18 (40.9%) had non-GI symptoms, 15 (34.1%) had a combination of GI and non-GI symptoms, and 11 (25.0%) had GI symptoms only. Thirty-three had mild-to-moderate disease, 8 severe, and 5 critical. Five patients (1.98%) died. On multivariate analysis, the factors associated with the presence of GI symptoms included the absence of contact history and presence of non-GI symptoms and comorbid illnesses. Patients with GI synptoms more often had severe, critical illness and fatal outcome than those without GI symptoms.
Eighty-two percent of patients with COVID-19 were asymptomatic, and 10.3% had GI symptoms; severe and fatal disease occurred only in 5% and 2%, respectively. The presence of GI symptoms was associated with a severe illness and fatal outcome on multivariate analysis. Independent predictors of GI symptoms included the absence of contact history, presence of non-GI symptoms, and comorbid illnesses.(Equation is included in full-text article.).
Cold recycling of asphalt mixes is becoming a usual pavement rehabilitation technique. The use of active fillers in conjunction with bituminous emulsion changes the properties of the mixes, mainly on ...the mastic characteristics. The use of active filler can make the mastic more brittle, but limited data are available on this aspect. In this study, emulsion-active filler mastics were prepared with two different mixing methods. Two different active fillers, ordinary Portland cement and fly ash, were used at four different contents with a single emulsion and an inert filler. Once cured, the mastics were tested with a dynamic shear rheometer (DSR) to get the viscoelastic properties at high temperature and with the double-edge-notched tension (DENT) test to look at the cracking potential at intermediate temperature. The results show that the order that the materials are incorporated during the mixing of the mastics does have a significant effect on the properties. Also, in terms of stiffness, the optimum amount of active filler is different for the cement than for the fly ash. For the cracking resistance, the results have shown that the addition of both active fillers does have an impact on the cracking resistance, but in the amount tested, no brittle fracture was observed. The results have shown that the type and quantity of active filler are important since it changes the fracture performance and the viscoelastic properties of bituminous mastic.
•Recycling of simulated Polymerized RAP produced using standard laboratory aging techniques.•Mix aging is better to simulate RAP from SBS PMB with 3 to 4% SBS.•Standard aging methods have distinct ...impact on performance of aged recycled PMB.
Researchers have mostly used three artificial aging techniques, namely pressure aging vessel (PAV) binder aging, compacted mix aging (CMA), and loose mix aging (LMA) to simulate recycled asphalt pavement (RAP) binder in the laboratory. RAP binder (RAPB) simulated using different techniques will differ in characteristics and may affect the performance of the base binder differently. Which may affect the parameters used for blending and recycling, such as the selection of base binder, rejuvenator dosage, etc. Therefore, in this study, three RAP binders, namely RAPB-P, RAPB-C, and RAPB-L, were simulated from a polymer modified binder (PMB) with 3.5% SBS content, using PAV aging (100 °C, 20 hrs, 2.1 MPa), CMA (85 °C, 5 days) and LMA (85 °C, 8 days), respectively. These polymerized RAPBs were added to an unmodified binder (AC 30) at three proportions: 15 %, 25 %, and 40 %. These RAPB and AC 30 blends were characterized in terms of their dynamic viscosity, mixing and compaction temperature, and high temperature performance grade (PG). Superpave rutting factor (|G*|/sin δ) and multiple stress creep and recovery (MSCR) test parameters were used to evaluate the rutting performance of the RAPB blended AC 30 binders. Further, resistance to yielding and elastic recovery values were evaluated using the binder yield energy test (BYET). The test results suggested that all three RAP binders affect the performance of the AC 30 binder differently, which was also confirmed by statistical analysis using one-way ANOVA. From MSCR and BYET test results, it may be stated that RAP binder simulated from standard PAV aging may mislead in predicting the high and intermediate temperature performance of AC 30 binder with RAPB. Overall, the present study is helpful for asphalt researchers and practitioners to understand how the selection of different defined aging strategies affects the performance of aged recycled PMB with unmodified base binder.
Aim: The present study aimed to evaluate and compare the placental variables of oxidative stress markers in preeclamptic women.
Methods: A total of 60 placentas were collected. Of these, 30 were ...obtained from normotensive pregnancies, and 30 from pregnancies with preeclampsia as per International Society for the Study of Hypertension in Pregnancy (ISSHP) criteria. Each placental tissue was analyzed for levels of pro‐oxidant (malondialdehyde) and antioxidants (glutathione and superoxide dismutase) using the standard enzymatic assays.
Results: Malondialdehyde levels were significantly higher (12.21 ± 4.1 versus 4.7 ± 2.1 nmol/g tissue, P < 0.0001) and glutathione (GSH) levels were significantly lower (0.46 ± 0.37 versus 1.03 ± 0.43 µmol/g tissue, P < 0.0001) in the placentas of preeclamptic women when compared to those of normal pregnancies. Though not statistically significant, decreases in superoxide dismutase levels were observed in placentas of preeclamptic women (4.14 ± 2.25 versus 5.22 ± 2.0 units/mg tissue protein, P < 0.055). Receiver operator characteristic curve analysis of malondialdehyde revealed a sensitivity of 87% and specificity of 87%, at a cutoff value 6.5 nmol/g. Similarly, GSH had a sensitivity of 77% and a specificity of 77% at a cutoff value 0.62 µmol/g.
Conclusion: The present study demonstrated that increased placental lipid peroxidation and decreased levels of antioxidants may play an important role in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia. These findings are suggestive of involvement of oxidative stress markers in preeclamptic patients.
•The crushing mechanism showed significant effects on shape of fine aggregates.•Aggregate produced from HSI showed the highest angularity and form 2D, followed by CC and VSI.•The AIMS and FAA tests ...showed different ranking of aggregate angularity.•The Angle of Repose test is unable to capture the effect of crushers on aggregate shape.•The AIMS technique can be preferred over FAA for characterisation of aggregate shape.
Shape characteristics of fine aggregates, namely angularity and form 2D are greatly associated with the types of rocks, mineralogical compositions, and allied crushing mechanism. Thus, for a given source and aggregate, the type of crusher may play a critical role in producing aggregates having different shape parameters. The present study was undertaken to compare shape parameters of fine aggregates produced from three different crushers, i.e. vertical shaft impactor (VSI), cone crusher (CC) and horizontal shaft impactor (HSI). Basaltic fine aggregates collected from three different crushers was divided into five sizes, namely FA1 (P4.75-R2.36: aggregate passing 4.75mm and retaining on 2.36mm), FA2 (P2.36-R1.18), FA3 (P1.18-R0.600), FA4 (P0.600-R0.300) and FA5 (P0.300-R0.150). The angularity and form 2D values of different sizes and types of fine aggregates were measured using Aggregate Image Measurement System (AIMS) in accordance with AASHTO TP 81. Further, conventional technique namely fine aggregate angularity (FAA) test was used to measure angularity of fine aggregates. Furthermore, Angle of Repose (AoR) test was conducted to identify influence of shape characteristics on particle packing behaviour. The study showed that both the techniques (i.e., AIMS and FAA) could differentiate among the quality of fine aggregates produced from different crushers. However, both techniques resulted in opposite trend in angularity of aggregates. The AIMS measurement showed that angularity and form 2D was highest for aggregates produced from HSI crusher followed by CC and VSI. On the other hand, FAA showed that aggregates produced from CC crusher had maximum angularity followed by VSI and HSI. Conclusively, the AIMS showed that HSI crusher could produce aggregates with highest angularity, while FAA showed that this type of crusher might produce aggregates with least angularity. Curiously, the AoR values showed no significant difference for the fine aggregates produced from different crushers. The interrelation between angularity and form 2D is also discussed in the paper.
The study presently conducted focused on analyzing a solar-powered desalination setup that had a double slope. It can recycle blackish water into drinking water with solar energy. Not only does this ...result in a significant decrease in carbon emissions but it also represents an environmentally beneficial alternative that is particularly suited for arid locations that are lacking of electrical infrastructure. This system was equipped with a PVT system which makes the system self-sustainable and a CPC collector and implemented the use of aluminum oxide (Al2O3) nanoparticles to enhance its energy efficiency. Energy matrices, economic analysis, and life cycle conversion efficiency were evaluated. The study was conducted annually in New Delhi, with input data provided by IMD in Pune, India. MATLAB was used for the analytical calculations. Energy and exergy were utilized to determine the average annual energy output, which was found to be 8.5%. Additionally, the average energy payback time was calculated to be 16.16%, the average energy payback factor was 13.91%, and the average life cycle cost conversion efficiency was 7.15% higher. The proposed system demonstrated superior performance compared to the previous system in terms of annual yield, energy payback time (EPBT), efficiency of life cycle cost (LCCE), and factor of energy payback (EPBF). The hybrid system has the potential to meet the future demand for potable water and become self-sustainable.
PDF
