The current study was focused on the development of electrically conductive composites of carbon particle filled cotton fabric/epoxy systems. The carbon particles were refined to the scale of micro/nanoparticles using ball milling and morphological properties were studied by Malvern zetasizer and SEM. The influence of different concentrations of carbon particles in green epoxy resin for electrical conductivity was studied. Additionally, the electrical conductivity and electromagnetic shielding ability of conductive composites were analyzed. Waveguide method at high frequency (i.e. at 2.45 GHz) was used to investigate the EMI shielding. Similarly, the effect of different concentrations of carbon particles in composites was also studied for mechanical strength (tensile and flexural). A comprehensive study showed the improvements in electrical and mechanical properties with increase in the concentration of carbon particles and their even distribution in resin. The composites with higher carbon filler concentration showed maximum electrical conductivity (1.0E–02), shielding effectiveness 23.13 dB and mechanical properties.
The presented work reported the growth of 3D-shaped TiO 2 flower particles on the surface of polyester fabrics using two step approaches of sol–gel technology and hydrothermal method. The scanning electron microscopy, EDS analysis, Raman spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction techniques were employed to study the effect of titanium isopropoxide (TTIP) concentration on the growth of flower-like TiO 2 microstructures. Later, a layer of trimethoxy(octadecyl)silane was applied on TiO 2 -coated polyester fabrics to fabricate the self-cleaning textiles. The physical self-cleaning properties were examined based on superhydrophobicity and contact angle measurements, where maximum static contact angle of 160.1 o and minimum roll off angle of 3° was found for 2 mL TTIP concentration. The degradation of methyl orange dyes under UV light irradiation was observed to confirm the photocatalytic chemical self-cleaning behavior, where the samples coated with 2 mL TTIP decolorized the dye solution in 150 min, whereas the samples coated with 1 mL and 1.5 mL TTIP took almost 300 and 210 min, respectively.
The problem of increasing plastic pollution has emerged as a significant societal issue. Plastics can originate from various sources, and there is growing concern among researchers to study and investigate this new category of pollution. The plastic waste is found at the macro, micro, and nanoscale, and its study has had great significance according to the perspective of posing hazardous impacts on living organisms. Given the high demand for functional textiles, the textile industries are supporting the coating of different polymeric based finishes on the surface of textile products. The plastic debris emitted from these coated finishes are in the ranges of nanometric scale, so-called polymeric nanoplastics (PNPs). With the new terminology, polymeric nanoplastics (PNPs) released from textile finishes or coatings are being increasingly mentioned, and the term fibrous microplastics (FMPs) can be seen as outdated. This study is based on an intensive review of a very novel category of debris plastics (PNPs) mostly produced from textile finishes or coatings. In fact, FMPs and PNPs released from synthetic textiles and textiles coated with plastic-based finishes during washing activities are considered to be a major cause that contributes to the current overall load of microplastics (MPs) in the environment. A link between the concentration of NPs from textile fibers and NPs from textile polymeric-based coatings in freshwater and sediments within a particular local setting and the extent of activities of the textile industry has been demonstrated. Invested efforts have been paid to consider and concentrate on plastic pollution (nanoplastics from textile polymeric coatings). We also summarize existing methodologies to elucidate the identification and proactive quantification of nanoplastics shed from the textile polymeric coatings. To this end, more than 40 studies have been done to identify the physical, chemical, and mechanical parameters and to characterize nanoplastics.
This work was focused on the development of superhydrophobic and UV protective cotton fabric by simple approach. Cotton fabric was coated with TiO2 particles by one step hydrothermal reaction. TiO2 coated fabric was subsequent treated with Trimethoxy(octadecyl)silane (OTMS). The effect of hydrothermal reaction time on synthesis of nanoparticles was studied. The results showed TiO2 particles were uniformly distributed on the fiber surface with a high coating density. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM), EDS analysis and Raman spectroscopy techniques were used to investigate the surface structure of coated fabrics. The analysis of superhydrophobicity, UV protection and oil/water separation was performed. The water contact angle was increased to 146°, 153° and 159° for deposition duration of 4, 8 and 12 h, respectively. The robust superhydrophobic fabric exhibited good stability against physical and chemical insults including mechanical abrasion test, washing durability, and exposures to extreme aqueous conditions (e.g. acidic and alkaline). Further, the superhydrophobic cotton fabrics with special wettability showed great potentials for oil/water separation under various conditions (e.g. floating oil layer or underwater oil droplet or even oil/water mixtures). In addition, this facile approach can be widely used to construct multifunctional textiles with excellent self-cleaning, UV protection, and oil/water separation properties.
Objective: To compare the functional and radiological results of locking plate versus shortened interlocking nail for treating extra-articular distal tibia fractures.Methods: This randomized trial was conducted in Department of Orthopaedics, Lahore General Hospital from 25th June 2017 to 25th July 2019.All patients of distal tibia fractures fulfilling the inclusion criteria were randomly and equally divided into group A(shortened interlocking nail) and group B(anatomically contoured distal tibial locking plate). Post operatively functional outcome was determined by assessing ankle and knee range of motion. Radiological union was assessed through callus formation on X ray AP and Lateral view. The time of radiological union and range of motion in both groups were compared and chi square test was applied to note any statistical significance with P value of < 0.05 was considered significant.Results: Total 24 patients were equally divided into two groups A and B with 12 patients in each group. The mean age of group A was 22.5 years(range 20 to 34.5 years) while group B had mean age 31 years(range 22 to 35 years).In group A all the patients were male. Group B had 1(8.3%) female patient. Majority(91.6%,n=11) of patients in group A regained normal range of motion of ankle and knee at final follow up. In group B the normal ankle range of motion was noted in 8(66.6%) patients. Non union was documented in 1(8.3%) patient in group A and 3(25%) patients in group B. The functional and radiological outcome was significantly better in interlocking nail group than locking plate group(P value of < 0.05).Conclusion: Extra articular distal tibia fractures treated with shortened intramedullary nail produced better functional and radiological results than locking plate. Shortened intramedullary nail should be the treatment of first choice to treat these fractures.
To determine the risk factors for Deliberate Self-Harm (DSH) in patients presenting to the Emergency Departments (EDs) of three tertiary care hospitals of Karachi, Pakistan.Multicentre matched case control study.EDs of the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Civil Hospital, Karachi and Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Karachi, from March 2011 to February 2012.A total of 201 cases and 201 matched controls were taken from three hospitals situated in Karachi. All patients of 16 years and above presenting to the EDs of the hospitals with DSH attempt were invited to participate in the study. Controls were ED patients with complaints other than DSH. A control was matched with case for hospital, gender and age. Two questionnaires were used to collect information on the risk factors of DSH. Conditional Logistic Regression (CLR) was used to assess the association of various risk factors with DSH.Risk factors of DSH in Karachi included current history of mental disorder (OR = 4.53, 95% CI = 1.59 - 12.92), not sharing problems with someone (OR = 4.67, 95% CI = 2.4 - 9.0), living in rented houses (OR = 2.58, 95% CI = 1.37 - 4.84), Pathan ethnicity (OR = 5.05, 95% CI = 1.01-25.38) followed by others (OR = 3.88, 95% CI = 0.77 - 19.69) and Urdu speaking (OR = 2.71, 95% CI = 0.59 - 12.45). Absence of physical illness in the past month had an inverse association with DSH (OR = 0.17, 95% CI = 0.07 - 0.37).Mental illnesses, low socio-economic status and loneliness were the risk factors of DSH patients presenting to the three EDs of Karachi. Physical illness in the last month was protective against DSH in these patients. Psychiatric evaluation of DSH patients in the ED is important for early diagnosis and management of mental disorders.
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