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Textiles
Terms modified by Textiles Selected AbstractsSOURCES OF PRODUCTIVITY GROWTH IN AUSTRALIAN TEXTILE AND CLOTHING FIRMS,AUSTRALIAN ECONOMIC PAPERS, Issue 3 2007I.K.M. MOKHTARUL WADUD This paper estimates the sources of productivity growth in Australian textile and clothing firms based on the Business Longitudinal Survey (BLS) from 1995 to 1998. Productivity growth estimates have been obtained for each sub-category of textile and clothing firms. Sources of growth in multifactor productivity (MFP) are examined with growth in technical efficiency and scale effects based on estimates of stochastic frontier production functions. Separate estimates of output growth have been compared with the productivity growth estimates for each of the product categories. MFP improved in all clothing firms and declined in textile firms over 1997,1998 by four-digit level of Australia New Zealand Standard Industrial classification Scheme (ANZSIC). MFP declined in most major categories of both textile and clothing firms in 1995,1997. Changes in technical efficiency mostly dominated scale effects in the overall direction of MFPG in both textile and clothing firms. The findings of the study provide evidence for policies for improving the firms' operative performance in the ongoing liberalised regime. [source] PROVENANCE OF ANCIENT TEXTILES,A PILOT STUDY EVALUATING THE STRONTIUM ISOTOPE SYSTEM IN WOOL*ARCHAEOMETRY, Issue 2 2009K. M. FREI Strontium isotopes are used in archaeology to reconstruct human and animal migration routes. We present results of a pilot study applying strontium isotope analyses to modern sheep hair as a basis for its potential use as a provenance tracer for ancient woollen textiles. Our hydrofluoric acid-based, lipid soluble analytical protocol, also tested on a number of ancient textile fibres, allows for contamination-free, low blank strontium isotope analysis of minimal amounts of archaeological material. 87Sr/86Sr ratios of decontaminated sheep hair agree well with the compositions of biologically available (soluble) strontium fractions from the respective feeding ground soils, a translatable requirement for any potentially successful provenance tracing applied to wool textiles. [source] A preliminary comparative analysis of 3D body scanner, manually taken girth body measurements and size chart measurementsINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CONSUMER STUDIES, Issue 3 2010Pinkie E. Zwane Abstract In an attempt to provide a technological solution to the influx of cheap imports in South Africa and bridging the technology divide between Africa and the rest of the world, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research procured a three-dimensional body scanner from the Textile and Clothing Technology Corporation, in the US. The pilot study was aimed at introducing the technology to the South African consumers, and to compare the scanned data with the manually taken measurements. A convenience sample of 56 females in South Africa was interviewed using a structured questionnaire. Interviews were used to capture views on acceptance of the technology, prior to being scanned. Scanning garments made from a stretchy fabric were designed and sewn in four sizes of small, medium, large and extra large. A covariance, one sample t -test and paired t - tests were used for data analyses. Almost all respondents felt comfortable with the designed scanning garments and the scanning process. The scanner measurements were generally more numerical in value than the manual measurements for a body part as expected, although the disparity was on the higher side than expected. The discernible difference between means of scanned data and standard values in the currently used sizing charts highlighted the long overdue need to update the sizing charts using a national anthropometric database generated locally. [source] Intermediate accumulation and efficiency of anaerobic digestion treatment of surfactant (alcohol sulfate)-rich wastewater at increasing surfactant/biomass ratiosJOURNAL OF CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY & BIOTECHNOLOGY, Issue 9 2002Heiko Feitkenhauer Abstract Textile (eg cotton) finishing industry wastewater is characterised by high concentrations of surfactants (up to 2,g,dm,3) and of readily biodegradable biopolymers (COD 5,15,g,dm,3). The anionic surfactant decyl sulfate (DS) was chosen as model surfactant and soluble starch (size) as model compound for the readily biodegradable fraction of the wastewater. Twenty-two batch experiments with increasing DS/biomass ratio (and starch/biomass ratio) were started simultaneously. Biomass concentrations ranged from 50 to 15,000,mg,dm,3. Minor inhibition effects were found for the surfactant degradation itself at all DS/biomass ratios (maximum biodegradation rate 7.7,mgDS gbiomass,1h,1). The starch hydrolysis started without a lag-phase at DS/biomass ratios of up to 0.15,gDS gbiomass,1. The lag-phase was prolonged to about 100,h at a very high DS/biomass ratio (3,gDS gbiomass,1). The relative importance of the accumulated intermediates was dependent on the DS/biomass ratio. Above 0.3,gDS gbiomass,1 10% of the substrate organic carbon accumulated as ethanol, but no ethanol accumulation was observed at low DS/biomass ratios. Moderate DS/biomass ratios caused a considerable delay of the methanogenesis; high DS/biomass ratios prevented the methanogenesis almost completely. © 2002 Society of Chemical Industry [source] Determinants of Competitiveness: Observations in China's Textile and Apparel IndustriesCHINA AND WORLD ECONOMY, Issue 2 2009Chi-Keung Lau C15; F14 Abstract This paper attempts to explore key determinants of competitiveness in the textile and apparel industries, with special reference to Chinese Mainland. The authors conduct a survey that is designed to use productivity, supply-side and demand-side determinants to measure enterprises' competitiveness. The collected survey data is then analyzed using factor analysis to capture the related determining factors indicative of competitiveness at the enterprise level. The findings demonstrate that government policies and related industry infrastructure are the most important determinants of competitiveness in the textile and apparel industries, followed by domestic demand. This suggests that the improvement of industry infrastructure can foster industry performance, and that more resources should be endowed to enhance the domestic business competitiveness of local enterprises. The development of domestic demand will foster the competitiveness of the textile and apparel industries on a more sustainable basis. [source] Research Trends in Textiles and Clothing: An Analysis of Three Journals, 1980,1999FAMILY & CONSUMER SCIENCES RESEARCH JOURNAL, Issue 2 2001Sharron J. Lennon The purpose of this research was to assess trends in research, research strategies, data analysis techniques, funding sources, affiliations, and the use of theoretical frameworks in textiles and clothing research. Empirical research focused on textiles and clothing and published in three home economics,related journals,Journal of Family and Consumer Sciences, Family and Consumer Science Research Journal, and Clothing and Textiles Research Journal,from 1980 to 1999 was content analyzed (N = 586). Although survey methodology and experimentation were the first and second most-used research strategies in all but one 5-year period from 1980 to 1999, fieldwork has increased. Data analysis techniques were primarily quantitative, with increases in the use of some advanced statistical techniques. However, the qualitative treatment of data also increased. Suggestions for graduate education and faculty development are offered. [source] A Simple, One-Step Approach to Durable and Robust Superhydrophobic Textiles,ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 22 2008Jan Zimmermann Abstract Superhydrophobic textile fabrics are prepared by a simple, one-step gas phase coating procedure by which a layer of polymethylsilsesquioxane nanofilaments is grown onto the individual textile fibers. A total of 11 textile fabrics made from natural and man made fibers are successfully coated and their superhydrophobic properties evaluated by the water shedding angle technique. A thorough investigation of the commercially relevant poly(ethylene terephthalate) fabric reveals an unparalleled long-term water resistance and stability of the superhydrophobic effect. Because of the special surface geometry generated by the nanoscopic, fibrous coating on the microscopic, fibrous textiles, the coated fabric remains completely dry even after two months of full immersion in water and stays superhydrophobic even after continuous rubbing with a skin simulating friction partner under significant load. Furthermore, important textile parameters such as tensile strength, color, and haptics are unaffected by the silicone nanofilament coating. For the first time, an in-depth characterization of the wetting properties, beyond simple contact angle measurements, as well as a thorough evaluation of the most important textile parameters is performed on a superhydrophobic fabric, which reveals a true potential for application. [source] Medieval Clothing and Textiles.HISTORY, Issue 308 2007Gale R. Owen-Crocker, Volume 2 - Edited by Robin Netherton No abstract is available for this article. [source] Electronic Textiles: Fiber-Embedded Electrolyte-Gated Field-Effect Transistors for e-Textiles (Adv. Mater.ADVANCED MATERIALS, Issue 5 20095/2009) The cover shows an artist's interpretation of a textile where parts of the fibers in the weave are electronically active as represented by the orange fibers, and these fibers are in turn controlled by fiber embedded transistors represented by the red spheres at the junctions. The fabrication and incorporation into textiles of these electrolyte-gated transistors is discussed in detail by Mahiar Hamedi and co-workers on p. 573. [source] The Agreement on Textiles and Clothing: Potential effects on gendered employment in PakistanINTERNATIONAL LABOUR REVIEW, Issue 4 2005Karin Astrid SIEGMANN First page of article [source] Woven Stories: Andean Textiles and Rituals by Andrea M. Heckman Ausangate by Andrea Heckman and Tad FetigAMERICAN ANTHROPOLOGIST, Issue 3 2009LYNN A. MEISCH No abstract is available for this article. [source] Integration and transition: Scenarios for the location of production and trade in EuropeTHE ECONOMICS OF TRANSITION, Issue 1 2002Rikard Forslid Applying a newly developed CGE-model, we present scenarios for the future economic geography of Europe. The model divides the world into ten regions, five of which are European, and 14 industries, of which 12 are imperfectly competitive. With a complete input-output structure, the model captures comparative advantage mechanisms as well as intra-industry trade and ,new economic geography' agglomeration forces. The simulations focus on the consequences of successful transformation in Eastern Europe. The results indicate that transformation and European integration are of great importance for Eastern Europe, while the overall effects for other European regions are small. Individual sectors in the EU, such as Textiles and Transport Equipment, are, however, in some cases strongly affected. JEL classification: C68, F12, F17, R11. [source] Flame-retardant finishing of cotton fleece fabric: part I. The use of a hydroxy-functional organophosphorus oligomer and dimethyloldihydroxylethyleneureaFIRE AND MATERIALS, Issue 1 2007Charles Q. Yang Abstract Cotton fleece has become a popular fashion in recent years. However, most of the 100% cotton fleece fabric is not able to meet the federal flammability standard (,16 CFR Part 1610: Standard for the Flammability of Clothing Textiles') without chemical treatment. In this research, we investigated the use of the combination of a hydroxy-functional organophosphorus oligomer (HFPO) as the flame-retarding agent and dimethyloldihydroxylethyleneurea (DMDHEU) as the binder to reduce the flammability of cotton fleece. We found that HFPO is effective in reducing the flammability of the cotton fleece whereas DMDHEU enhances the effectiveness of HFPO due to phosphorus,nitrogen synergism. The flammability as well as other properties of the treated cotton fleece is affected by both the concentration of HFPO and that of DMDHEU. The cotton fleece treated with HFPO/DMDHEU passes the federal flammability standard and shows high strength retention with little change in fabric whiteness and hand. We also found that the flame-retardant finishing system is durable to multiple home launderings. The combination of HFPO and DMDHEU has the potential to become a practical flame-retardant finishing system to reduce the flammability of cotton fleeces. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] FlattGen: Teaching tool for surface flatteningCOMPUTER APPLICATIONS IN ENGINEERING EDUCATION, Issue 2 2006Simon Kolmani Abstract In many cases in the industry, we can face a problem, where an object has to be manufactured out of thin plane material. This is especially the case in the car, airplane, shipbuilding, textile, and shoe making industry. In order to manufacture such an object, a pattern has to be generated first. It has to be cut out from plane material and then bend to the final shape. The same problem can be found also in computer graphics, where flat patterns are used to decrease distortions in texture mapping. Therefore, it is important for designers and computer engineers to master the flat pattern generation. In literature, a great number of methods for pattern generation can be found and it is important to know their advantages and weaknesses. In this article, the application FlattGen is presented where the most important flattening methods can be seen and compared to each other. In this way, students can experiment and prepare themselves better for the future work. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Comput Appl Eng Educ 14: 106,119, 2006; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com); DOI 10.1002/cae.20060 [source] Recurrent Neural Networks for Uncertain Time-Dependent Structural BehaviorCOMPUTER-AIDED CIVIL AND INFRASTRUCTURE ENGINEERING, Issue 5 2010W. Graf The approach is based on recurrent neural networks trained by time-dependent measurement results. Thereby, the uncertainty of the measurement results is modeled as fuzzy processes which are considered within the recurrent neural network approach. An efficient solution for network training and prediction is developed utilizing ,-cuts and interval arithmetic. The capability of the approach is demonstrated by means of the prediction of the long-term structural behavior of a reinforced concrete plate strengthened by a textile reinforced concrete layer. [source] Toxicity tests to assess pollutants removal during wastewater treatment and the quality of receiving waters in ArgentinaENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY, Issue 3 2001Carlos E. Gómez Abstract In Argentina, legislation to control adverse impacts of effluent discharges and the quality of receiving waters is scant and relies mainly on the physicochemical characteristics of the effluents and receiving waters. Objectives of this study were to use standardized acute toxicity tests to assess treatment of petrochemical industry effluents and the toxicity of various treated industrial effluents in the Buenos Aires metropolitan area and their receiving waters. Tests for the first objective used Daphnia magna and Ceriodaphnia dubia; those for the second used D. magna, Spirillum volutans, and Scenedesmus spinosus. Chemical analyses demonstrated that the removal of aromatic hydrocarbon compounds (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene, styrene, and naphthalene) from the petrochemical effluents ranged between 77 and 93%, but toxicity removal was significantly lower: untreated effluents were very toxic and treated effluents were very toxic to toxic [acute toxicity units (TUa)>3]. Physicochemical parameters measured according to current Argentinian regulations indicated that industrial effluents (e.g., from textile and paper industries) were within established guidelines, but 25% of the samples were moderately to highly toxic (TUa>1.33). However, for the receiving waters, toxicity tests were moderate to very toxic. The results show the need of including tests for toxicity of discharged effluents, and their effects on receiving waters of Argentina, especially for regulatory purposes. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Environ Toxicol 16: 217,224, 2001 [source] Novel ,-carboxyglutamic acid-containing peptides from the venom of Conus textileFEBS JOURNAL, Issue 12 2006Eva Czerwiec The cone snail is the only invertebrate system in which the vitamin K-dependent carboxylase (or ,-carboxylase) and its product ,-carboxyglutamic acid (Gla) have been identified. It remains the sole source of structural information of invertebrate ,-carboxylase substrates. Four novel Gla-containing peptides were purified from the venom of Conus textile and characterized using biochemical methods and mass spectrometry. The peptides Gla(1),TxVI, Gla(2),TxVI/A, Gla(2),TxVI/B and Gla(3),TxVI each have six Cys residues and belong to the O -superfamily of conotoxins. All four conopeptides contain 4- trans -hydroxyproline and the unusual amino acid 6- l -bromotryptophan. Gla(2),TxVI/A and Gla(2),TxVI/B are isoforms with an amidated C-terminus that differ at positions +1 and +13. Three isoforms of Gla(3),TxVI were observed that differ at position +7: Gla(3),TxVI, Glu7,Gla(3),TxVI and Asp7-Gla(3),TxVI. The cDNAs encoding the precursors of the four peptides were cloned. The predicted signal sequences (amino acids ,46 to ,27) were nearly identical and highly hydrophobic. The predicted propeptide region (,20 to ,1) that contains the ,-carboxylation recognition site (,-CRS) is very similar in Gla(2),TxVI/A, Gla(2),TxVI/B and Gla(3),TxVI, but is more divergent for Gla(1),TxVI. Kinetic studies utilizing the Conus,-carboxylase and synthetic peptide substrates localized the ,-CRS of Gla(1),TxVI to the region ,14 to ,1 of the polypeptide precursor: the Km was reduced from 1.8 mm for Gla (1),TxVI lacking a propeptide to 24 µm when a 14-residue propeptide was attached to the substrate. Similarly, addition of an 18-residue propeptide to Gla(2),TxVI/B reduced the Km value tenfold. [source] Electronic Textiles: Fiber-Embedded Electrolyte-Gated Field-Effect Transistors for e-Textiles (Adv. Mater.ADVANCED MATERIALS, Issue 5 20095/2009) The cover shows an artist's interpretation of a textile where parts of the fibers in the weave are electronically active as represented by the orange fibers, and these fibers are in turn controlled by fiber embedded transistors represented by the red spheres at the junctions. The fabrication and incorporation into textiles of these electrolyte-gated transistors is discussed in detail by Mahiar Hamedi and co-workers on p. 573. [source] Biodegradation of disperse textile dye Brown 3REL by newly isolated Bacillus sp.JOURNAL OF APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 1 2008Abstract Aims:, To isolate the potential micro-organism for the degradation of textile disperse dye Brown 3 REL and to find out the reaction mechanism. Methods and Results:, 16S rDNA analysis revealed an isolate from textile effluent contaminated soil as Bacillus sp. VUS and was able to degrade (100%) dye Brown 3REL within 8 h at static anoxic condition. A significant increase in the activities of lignin peroxidase, laccase and NADH-DCIP reductase was observed up to complete decolourization of Brown 3REL. The optimum temperature required for degradation was 40°C and pH 6·5,12·0. Phyto-toxicity and chemical oxygen demand revealed nontoxic products of dye degradation. The biodegradation was monitored by UV,VIS, FTIR spectroscopy and HPLC. The final products 6,8-dichloro-quinazoline-4-ol and cyclopentanone were characterized by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. This Bacillus sp. VUS also decolourized (80%) textile dye effluent within 12 h. Conclusions:, This study suggests that Bacillus sp. VUS could be a useful tool for textile effluent treatment. Significance and Impact of the Study:, The newly isolated Bacillus sp. VUS decolourized 16 textile dyes and textile dye effluent also. It achieved complete biodegradation of Brown 3REL. Phytotoxicity study demonstrated no toxicity of the biodegraded products for plants with respect to Triticum aestivum and Sorghum bicolor. [source] Contributions of electrochemical oxidation to waste-water treatment: fundamentals and review of applicationsJOURNAL OF CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY & BIOTECHNOLOGY, Issue 12 2009Ángela Anglada Abstract OVERVIEW: This paper provides an overview of some fundamental aspects of electrochemical oxidation and gives updated information on the application of this technology to waste-water treatment. In recent years, electrochemical oxidation has gained increasing interest due to its outstanding technical characteristics for eliminating a wide variety of pollutants normally present in waste-waters such as refractory organic matter, nitrogen species and microorganisms. IMPACT: The strict disposal limits and health quality standards set by legislation may be met by applying electrochemical oxidation. However, treatment costs have to be cut down before full-scale application of this technology. Deployment of electrochemical oxidation in combination with other technologies and the use of renewable sources to power this process are two steps in this direction. APPLICATIONS: Effluents from landfill and a wide diversity of industrial effluents including the agro-industry, chemical, textile, tannery and food industry, have been effectively treated by this technology. Its high efficiency together with its disinfection capabilities makes electro-oxidation a suitable technology for water reuse programs. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry [source] An overview of the application of Fenton oxidation to industrial wastewaters treatmentJOURNAL OF CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY & BIOTECHNOLOGY, Issue 10 2008P Bautista Abstract This review provides updated information on the application of the Fenton process as an advanced oxidation method for the treatment of industrial wastewaters. This technology has been used in recent decades as a chemical oxidation process addressed to meet a variety of objectives including final polishing, reduction of high percentages of organic load in terms of chemical oxygen demand or total organic carbon and removal of recalcitrant and toxic pollutants thus allowing for further conventional biological treatment. The efficiency and flexibility of this technology has been proven with a wide diversity of effluents from chemical and other related industries or activities, including pharmaceutical, pulp and paper, textile, food, cork processing, and landfilling among others. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry [source] Urease immobilization on an ion-exchange textile for urea hydrolysisJOURNAL OF CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY & BIOTECHNOLOGY, Issue 6 2006Kyeong-Ho Yeon Abstract Ion-exchange textiles are used as organic supports for urease immobilization with the aim of developing reactive fibrous materials able to promote urea removal. A non-woven, polypropylene-based cation-exchange textile was prepared using UV-induced graft polymerization. Urease was covalently immobilized onto the cation-exchange textile using three different coupling agents: N -(3-dimethylaminopropyl)- N,-ethylcarbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC), N -cyclohexyl- N,-(b -[N -methylmorpholino]ethyl)carbodiimide p -toluenesulfonate (CMC), and glutaraldehyde (GA). The immobilized biocatalyst was characterized by means of FT-IR spectrometry, SEM micrographs, dependence of the enzyme activity on pH and temperature, and according to the kinetic constants of the free and immobilized ureases. The biotextile prepared with EDC in the presence of N -hydroxysuccinimide performs best. The optimum pH was 7.2 for the free urease and 7.6 for the immobilized ureases. The reactivity was maximal at 45 °C for free urease, 50 °C for biotextiles prepared using EDC or CMC, and 55 °C for biotextiles prepared with GA. The activation energy for the immobilized ureases was 4.73,5.67 kcal mol,1, which is somewhat higher than 4.3 kcal mol,1 for free urease. The urea conversion for a continuous-flow immobilized urease reactor is nearly as good as a continuously stirred tank reactor having a much longer residence time, suggesting that the packed bed reactor had sufficient diffusive mixing and residence time to reach nearly optimal results. Urease immobilized on a biotextile using EDC has good storage and operational stability. Copyright © 2006 Society of Chemical Industry [source] Preparation and characterization of UV-grafted ion-exchange textiles in continuous electrodeionizationJOURNAL OF CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY & BIOTECHNOLOGY, Issue 12 2004Kyeong-Ho Yeon Abstract Ion-exchange textiles (IETs) suitable for use in continuous electrodeionization (CEDI) stacks were prepared using the ultraviolet (UV)-induced grafting of acrylic acid and sodium styrene sulfonate for cation-exchange textiles, or 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate and vinylbenzyl trimethyl ammonium chloride for anion-exchange textiles, onto nonwoven polypropylene fabric using benzophenone as photoinitiator. Although the ion-exchange capacity (2.2 meq g,1) of the prepared strong acid cation-exchange textile was lower than that of IRN77 strong acid cation-exchange resin (4.2 meq g,1), the overall rate constant of IET was very high due to its low crosslinking and high specific surface area. There was no significant difference between the two different media in terms of the Co(II) removal rate. Furthermore, the current efficiency for IETs was higher than that of IRN77 cation-exchange resin during a CEDI operation, with efficiencies of 60% and 20%, respectively. The IET also showed the faster exchange kinetics. Therefore, IETs prepared in this study proved to have desirable ion-conducting characteristics within the CEDI systems. Also this study revealed that the primary removal mechanism in CEDI is the transport of ions through a medium and not the ionic capacity of a medium. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry [source] PRODUCTION AND BIOCHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF SCLEROTINIA SCLEROTIORUM ,-AMYLASE ScAmy1: ASSAY IN STARCH LIQUEFACTION TREATMENTSJOURNAL OF FOOD BIOCHEMISTRY, Issue 5 2008IMEN BEN ABDELMALEK KHEDHER ABSTRACT Among the lytic enzymes secreted by the phytopathogen fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, a starch-degrading activity has been isolated and characterized. Two extracellular ,-amylases were produced in culture medium in presence of oats flour as carbons sources. An endoamylase named ScAmy1 was purified to homogeneity by ammonium sulfate precipitation, phosphocellulose and cation exchange high performance liquid chromatographies. Molecular mass of purified ScAmy1 was estimated as 54 kDa. Amylase exhibits maximal activity at pH 5 to 6 and at temperature 60C. ScAmy1 was stable in a pH range of (5,11) and at 50C. Initial activity was still conserved 40%, after heating at 60C during 30 min. In addition, Ca2+activate and stabilize the enzyme. Starch end products were determined as low molecular oligoglucanes, the liquefying power of ScAmy1 was also tested with the Amylograph Brabender, results suggest a suitable application of ScAmy1 in several industrial process. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS ,-Amylase ScAmy1 was highly produced from Sclerotinia sclerotiorum on oats flour , a cheaper by-agro-substrate product. The enzyme was purified and biochemical characterized. ScAmy1 was applied in starch liquefaction treatments assay. The enzyme allows a decrease in peak viscosity after gelatinization and therefore has an important liquefying power. ScAmy1 has a nearly liquefaction effect on flour compared to the commercial enzyme Novamyl, from Novozymes, donated by Novo Nordisk Co. (Denmark). Enzyme end products were analyzed and identified as oligoglucanes and dextrins. Those are widely applied in food, paper, textile and pharmacological industries. Oligosaccharides are useful as prebiotics as dietary fiber or slowly digestible starch derivatives, and they can be used in form of supplement to certain foodstuffs. [source] Novel ,-conotoxins identified by gene sequencing from cone snails native to Hainan, and their sequence diversityJOURNAL OF PEPTIDE SCIENCE, Issue 11 2006Sulan Luo Abstract Conotoxins (CTX) from the venom of marine cone snails (genus Conus) represent large families of proteins, which show a similar precursor organization with surprisingly conserved signal sequence of the precursor peptides, but highly diverse pharmacological activities. By using the conserved sequences found within the genes that encode the ,-conotoxin precursors, a technique based on RT-PCR was used to identify, respectively, two novel peptides (LiC22, LeD2) from the two worm-hunting Conus species Conus lividus, and Conus litteratus, and one novel peptide (TeA21) from the snail-hunting Conus species Conus textile, all native to Hainan in China. The three peptides share an ,4/7 subfamily ,-conotoxins common cysteine pattern (CCX4CX7C, two disulfide bonds), which are competitive antagonists of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChRs). The cDNA of LiC22N encodes a precursor of 40 residues, including a propeptide of 19 residues and a mature peptide of 21 residues. The cDNA of LeD2N encodes a precursor of 41 residues, including a propeptide of 21 residues and a mature peptide of 16 residues with three additional Gly residues. The cDNA of TeA21N encodes a precursor of 38 residues, including a propeptide of 20 residues and a mature peptide of 17 residues with an additional residue Gly. The additional residue Gly of LeD2N and TeA21N is a prerequisite for the amidation of the preceding C -terminal Cys. All three sequences are processed at the common signal site -X-Arg- immediately before the mature peptide sequences. The properties of the ,4/7 conotoxins known so far were discussed in detail. Phylogenetic analysis of the new conotoxins in the present study and the published homologue of ,4/7 conotoxins from the other Conus species were performed systematically. Patterns of sequence divergence for the three regions of signal, proregion, and mature peptides, both nucleotide acids and residue substitutions in DNA and peptide levels, as well as Cys codon usage were analyzed, which suggest how these separate branches originated. Percent identities of the DNA and amino acid sequences of the signal region exhibited high conservation, whereas the sequences of the mature peptides ranged from almost identical to highly divergent between inter- and intra-species. Notably, the diversity of the proregion was also high, with an intermediate percentage of divergence between that observed in the signal and in the toxin regions. The data presented are new and are of importance, and should attract the interest of researchers in this field. The elucidated cDNAs of these toxins will facilitate a better understanding of the relationship of their structure and function, as well as the process of their evolutionary relationships. Copyright © 2006 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Nanometer-scale surface modification by polymerization of tetrafluoroethylene on polymer substrates in supercritical fluoroformJOURNAL OF POLYMER SCIENCE (IN TWO SECTIONS), Issue 5 2008Toshiaki Mori Abstract Surface penetrated polymerization of tetrafluoroethylene (TFE) was carried out on a polycarbonate (PC) plate in supercritical fluoroform (scCHF3). Since the high diffusiveness is one of peculiar features of supercritical fluids, TFE monomers and initiators (perfluorinated benzoyl peroxide) could penetrate into the surface of polymer substrates and be photo-polymerized. After washing physisorbed homopolymers on the surface, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) was found to penetrate into 50,800 nm depth from the surface and covered the PC surface in the proportion of 85%. The surface coverage density and the penetration depth could be controlled by adjusting of the pressure of scCHF3. The TFE-penetrated polymerization could be applied for various polymer plates such as polyethylene, polystyrene, polypropylene, poly(ethylene terephthalate), and polyimide. In addition to polymer plates, this technique could be applied to a cellulose paper, a nylon textile, and a porous PC membrane. The PTFE-penetrated nylon textile showed a high resistance for washing test with detergents, compared with the commercial fluoropolymer-sprayed nylon textile. The PTFE-penetrated porous PC membrane showed high oxygen permeability (P/P = 5.2), compared with that of the untreated PC membrane (P/P = 3.5) in gas permeation experiments of O2 and N2. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 1577,1585, 2008 [source] Improvement of L(+)-lactic acid production from cassava wastewater by Lactobacillus rhamnosus B 103JOURNAL OF THE SCIENCE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE, Issue 11 2010Luciana Fontes Coelho Abstract BACKGROUND:L(+)-Lactic acid is used in the pharmaceutical, textile and food industries as well as in the synthesis of biodegradable plastics. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of different medium components added in cassava wastewater for the production of L(+)-lactic acid by Lactobacillus rhamnosus B 103. RESULTS: The use of cassava wastewater (50 g L,1 of reducing sugar) with Tween 80 and corn steep liquor, at concentrations (v/v) of 1.27 mL L,1 and 65.4 mL L,1 respectively led to a lactic acid concentration of 41.65 g L,1 after 48 h of fermentation. The maximum lactic acid concentration produced in the reactor after 36 h of fermentation was 39.00 g L,1 using the same medium, but the pH was controlled by addition of 10 mol L,1 NaOH. CONCLUSION: The use of cassava wastewater for cultivation of L. rhamnosus is feasible, with a considerable production of lactic acid. Furthermore, it is an innovative proposal, as no references were found in the scientific literature on the use of this substrate for lactic acid production. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry [source] Occupation and multiple myeloma: An occupation and industry analysisAMERICAN JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE, Issue 8 2010Laura S. Gold PhD Abstract Background Multiple myeloma (MM) is an incurable plasma cell malignancy with a poorly understood etiology. The purpose of our research was to examine the relationships between lifetime occupations and MM in a relatively large case,control study. Methods MM cases (n,=,180) were identified through cancer registries in the Seattle-Puget Sound area and Detroit. Population-based controls (n,=,481) were identified using random digit dialing and Medicare and Medicaid Services files. In-person interviews were conducted to ascertain occupational histories. Standard occupational classification (SOC) and standard industrial classification (SIC) codes were assigned to each job held by each participant. Unconditional logistic regression was used to generate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for associations between MM and having ever worked in each occupation/industry and according to duration of employment in an occupation/industry. Results The risk of MM was associated with several manufacturing occupations and industries, including machine operators and tenders, not elsewhere classified (SOC 76) (OR,=,1.8, CI,=,1.0,3.3); textile, apparel, and furnishing machine operators and tenders (SOC 765) (OR,=,6.0, CI,=,1.7,21); and machinery manufacturing, except electrical (SIC 35) (OR,=,3.3, CI,=,1.7,6.7). Several service occupations and industries, such as food and beverage preparation (SOC 521) (OR,=,2.0, CI,=,1.1,3.8), were also associated with MM. One occupation that has been associated with MM in several previous studies, painters, paperhangers, and plasterers (SOC 644) was associated with a non-significantly elevated risk (OR,=,3.6, CI,=,0.7,19). Conclusions We found associations between the risk of MM and employment in several manufacturing and service-related occupations and industries. Am. J. Ind. Med. 53:768,779, 2010. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Effect of occupation and smoking on respiratory symptoms in working childrenAMERICAN JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE, Issue 6 2009Erkan Cakir Abstract Objectives To compare the respiratory symptoms and the lung function of children who work in different occupational groups. Methods The study was performed among children attending vocational training centers. The participants were evaluated in six different occupation groups. Chronic cough, wheezing and shortness of breath were evaluated by questionnaire. The association of independent variables with the respiratory symptoms was investigated through both univariate and multivariate methods. Results Among 642 children, 534 were males; the mean age was 17.7,±,1.0 years. Using an internal reference group, the odds ratios of chronic cough were significantly higher in the lathe (OR: 2.0, 95%CI: 1.07,3.74), coiffure (OR: 1.94. 95%CI: 1.01,3.70), and electricity-construction (OR: 2.63, 95%CI: 1.06,6.54) groups after adjustment for smoking, age, gender, and work characteristics. There were no significant differences in spirometric values between occupational groups in either smoking or non-smoking males. In non-smoking females, median values of FEV1 (P: 0.046), PEF (P: 0.005) and FEF25,75% (P: 0.019) were lower in the textile compared to the coiffure group. There was no significant association between the total working time and spirometric values. There was no statistically significant relationship between the work-related factors and the smoking status. Conclusions The prevalence of chronic cough was higher in the lathe, coiffure, and electricity-construction groups and pulmonary function tests were lower in the non-smoking textile female group. Working children should be screened for respiratory symptoms and disease. Am. J. Ind. Med. 52:471,478, 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] An analytical approach to evaluate the coefficients of thermal expansion of textile composite materialsPOLYMER COMPOSITES, Issue 5 2000Yasser Gowayed An analytical approach is developed to evaluate the coefficients of thermal expansion (CTE) of textile reinforced composites. At the micro level, a cylindrical composite model is employed to model the fiber/matrix thermal and mechanical interactions. The effects of voids and fiber coating on the thermal expansion coefficients of composites are considered at this level. The cylindrical model was then embedded in a macro hybrid finite element solutio structure to calculate the value of the CTE for textile composites. AS-4/epoxy balanced plain weave textile composites were manufactured. Five different fiber volume fractions were tested for CTE. Evaluatio of the thermal expansion coefficients using the current model was compared to experimental data for in-plane and out-of-plane directions. [source] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||