scholarly journals Keratin Associations with Synthetic, Biosynthetic and Natural Polymers: An Extensive Review

Polymers ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 32 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ricardo K. Donato ◽  
Alice Mija
Keyword(s):  
Literature Review ◽  
Historical Context ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Polymer Matrices ◽  
Advanced Materials ◽  
Extensive Literature ◽  
Extensive Review ◽  
Natural Polymers ◽  
Side Stream ◽  
Different Sources

Among the biopolymers from animal sources, keratin is one the most abundant, with a major contribution from side stream products from cattle, ovine and poultry industry, offering many opportunities to produce cost-effective and sustainable advanced materials. Although many reviews have discussed the application of keratin in polymer-based biomaterials, little attention has been paid to its potential in association with other polymer matrices. Thus, herein, we present an extensive literature review summarizing keratin’s compatibility with other synthetic, biosynthetic and natural polymers, and its effect on the materials’ final properties in a myriad of applications. First, we revise the historical context of keratin use, describe its structure, chemical toolset and methods of extraction, overview and differentiate keratins obtained from different sources, highlight the main areas where keratin associations have been applied, and describe the possibilities offered by its chemical toolset. Finally, we contextualize keratin’s potential for addressing current issues in materials sciences, focusing on the effect of keratin when associated to other polymers’ matrices from biomedical to engineering applications, and beyond.

scholarly journals Pathways for Sustainable and Inclusive Cities in Southern and Eastern Africa through Urban Green Infrastructure?

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 2729 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandra Titz ◽  
Sosten S. Chiotha
Keyword(s):  
Literature Review ◽  
Green Infrastructure ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Eastern Africa ◽  
Extensive Literature ◽  
Urban Green ◽  
Urban Green Spaces ◽  
Urban Transition ◽  
Sub Saharan

Cities in sub-Saharan Africa are currently confronted with a multitude, and hitherto unexperienced, magnitude of transformative phenomena such as rising inequality, exclusion, poverty and increased residency in informal settlements. These stressors are posing challenges to cities in terms of housing, infrastructure and provision of basic services as well as climate change adaptation. Despite the high dynamics and novel characteristics of city transformation, this urban transition seems to take place rather ‘quietly’ and has, so far, obviously hardly been understood or appreciated by researchers and governments. Subsequently, the multifaceted and extremely challenging problems associated with the process of urbanisation cannot be adequately addressed. Green infrastructure (GI) is currently emerging as a concept for cost-effective urban sustainability and livelihood security. Preservation and provision of accessible urban green spaces is increasingly recognised as an essential part of the liveability of cities. Extensive literature review revealed that the systematic integration of GI concepts in urban planning is seen by an increasing number of researchers as an essential approach to tackle major current and future challenges. Based on the literature review, we suggest that broadening the concept of urban GI by linking it to governance and rights-based conceptualisations will have the potential to unlock more resourceful paths for sustainable, green, and inclusive urban development of cities in Southern and Eastern Africa.

Perspective on the Tidal Bore: Background and Initiation

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. David Graber
Keyword(s):  
Literature Review ◽  
Field Data ◽  
Historical Context ◽  
Companion Paper ◽  
Extensive Literature ◽  
Scientific Interest ◽  
Tidal Bore ◽  
Extensive Literature Review ◽  
Tidal Bores ◽  
The Subject

Tidal bores have been the subject or cause of legend, poetry, recreation, tourism, shipping disasters, and scientific interest for centuries. They pose interesting theoretical questions for the engineer. Introductory details are presented regarding the remarkable tidal bore phenomenon, including discussion of the tidal bore in various locations and a recent photograph taken by the writer of the bore on China’s Qiantang River. A supplemental tabular summary is presented based on an extensive literature review. A simplified theory based on monoclinal rising waves is developed for the initiation of the tidal bore. The theory elucidates the mechanisms of the tidal bore more clearly and completely than more complex theories. Early studies of the tidal bore are cited and discussed in historical context. The intention is to provide greater understanding of the tidal bore for a broad set of readers. The theory is favorably compared to rectangular flume data and to all field data available to the writer. A companion paper builds on the present one by addressing additional features of the tidal bore.

scholarly journals 198 The Next Steps: The Development of Dementia Post-diagnostic Psychoeducational Support Guidance

2019 ◽  
Vol 48 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. iii17-iii65
Author(s):  
Matthew Gibb ◽  
Dearbhla O'Caheny ◽  
Cecilia Craig ◽  
Emer Begley
Keyword(s):  
Literature Review ◽  
Social Care ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Evidence Base ◽  
Extensive Literature ◽  
Guidance Document ◽  
Additional Material ◽  
People With Dementia ◽  
Health And Social Care ◽  
Diagnosis Of Dementia

Abstract Background There is often a `care gap' where people are given a clinical diagnosis of dementia but receive no useful support. (Foley, T. et al., 2019) However, the early stages of dementia are a crucial time for supportive interventions such as advice and strategies to cope with impairments and improve wellbeing and signposting through complex healthcare systems to access key supports and services. In February 2018 the National Dementia Office (NDO) commissioned the Dementia Services Information and Development Centre (DSIDC) to develop a guidance document to support health and social care professionals (HSCPs) establish, organise and facilitate evidence-based post-diagnostic pyschoeducatonal interventions in the community. Methods The DSIDC undertook an extensive literature review examining the evidence for multi-component psychoeducational interventions. An experienced group of health and social care professionals provided additional material and expertise resulting in the development of the final guidance document. Members of the Irish Working Group of People with Dementia and the Dementia Carers Campaign Network also reviewed the document. Results The literature review found a growing evidence base for dyadic interventions. These interventions, directed at the person with dementia and their care partner, were diverse in their content, outcomes, the measures they used, their frequency and the professional background of the facilitators. They were flexible and cost-effective and drew on the HSCP's own professional knowledge, service resources and experiences of what works and what doesn't. Conclusion Dyadic interventions (and psychoeducational programmes in particular) have the potential to benefit both people with dementia and their care partners by decreasing depression and anxiety, increasing knowledge and coping skills and helping improve cognitive function. (Moon and Betts Adams, 2012) The practical guidance document developed from this review provides HSCPs with useful advice and information to facilitate the setting up and running of post-diagnostic psychoeducational support programmes.

scholarly journals Natural edible films and coatings applied in food: a bibliographic review

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. e578997613
Author(s):  
Barbara Matias Moreira dos Santos ◽  
Sandriane Pizato ◽  
William Renzo Cortez-Vega
Keyword(s):  
Literature Review ◽  
Shelf Life ◽  
Edible Films ◽  
Review Article ◽  
Extensive Literature ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Natural Polymers ◽  
Extensive Literature Review ◽  
Naturally Occurring ◽  
Plastic Materials

Nowadays, the world's plastic production generates lot of plastic waste. Therefore, the need of reducing conventional nonbiodegradable plastic materials has encouraged the development of innovative biodegradable materials from renewable resources. Biobased polymer film can be developed using naturally occurring sources like polysaccharides, proteins, lipids, and their combinations. Natural edible polymers are the materials made from natural edible constituents that can be consumed by animals or human beings with no health risk. Also, there are additives that could be used as well to improve the package characteristics, such as essential oils, antioxidants. This review article aims to make an extensive literature review and compare data found by several authors in relation to the various natural polymers used in the manufacture of edible coatings and films applied in food products, and thereby show that their use can improve their characteristics and prolong the shelf life. More than 130 bibliographic references were used to produce this review article and several research platforms were used (Scielo, google academic, among others). After the extensive literature review, it is possible to conclude that the use of polymers obtained from natural sources is effective for preserving food for a longer time and thus causing a reduction in the loss of shelf life in these products.

scholarly journals An Extensive Literature Review on Underwater Image Colour Correction

Sensors ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (17) ◽  
pp. 5690
Author(s):  
Marinos Vlachos ◽  
Dimitrios Skarlatos
Keyword(s):  
Optical Properties ◽  
Literature Review ◽  
Light Propagation ◽  
Quality Evaluation ◽  
Marine Biology ◽  
Extensive Literature ◽  
Extensive Review ◽  
Scientific Interest ◽  
Vast Number ◽  
Underwater Image

The topic of underwater (UW) image colour correction and restoration has gained significant scientific interest in the last couple of decades. There are a vast number of disciplines, from marine biology to archaeology, that can and need to utilise the true information of the UW environment. Based on that, a significant number of scientists have contributed to the topic of UW image colour correction and restoration. In this paper, we try to make an unbiased and extensive review of some of the most significant contributions from the last 15 years. After considering the optical properties of water, as well as light propagation and haze that is caused by it, the focus is on the different methods that exist in the literature. The criteria for which most of them were designed, as well as the quality evaluation used to measure their effectiveness, are underlined.

Bioavailability of phosphorus as a tool for efficient P reduction schemes

1998 ◽  
Vol 37 (3) ◽  
pp. 241-247 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Gerdes ◽  
Sabine Kunst
Keyword(s):  
Sewage Treatment ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Effective Management ◽  
Lower Saxony ◽  
Effective Strategies ◽  
P Balance ◽  
Different Sources ◽  
Total P ◽  
P Sources ◽  
P Bioavailability

The bioavailability of phosphorus from different sources has been evaluated in the catchment area of the River Ilmenau (Lower-Saxony, Germany) by using algal assays. The P bioavailability describes the different potential of P from various sources of supporting eutrophication. Effluents from sewage treatment plants were highly bioavailable (72% of TP) whereas rainwater (26%) and erosion effluents (30%) showed a low bioavailability. In order to develop effective strategies to minimize P inputs into the river, source specific P bioavailability indices were determined and combined with a P balance to calculate inputs of vioavailable P (BAP) instead of total P (TP). It could be shown that the relative importance of the different P sources changes when applying BAP. Measures to reduce P inputs into the River Ilmenau will take P bioavailability into consideration and therefore lead to a more cost-effective management.

Green Route for the Removal of Pb from Aquatic Environment

2020 ◽  
Vol 23 (7) ◽  
pp. 587-598 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmed Refaat ◽  
Hanan Elhaes ◽  
Nabila S. Ammar ◽  
Hanan S. Ibrahim ◽  
Medhat Ibrahim
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Modeling ◽  
Sodium Alginate ◽  
Water Hyacinth ◽  
Aquatic Plant ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Important Process ◽  
Green Route ◽  
Homogeneous Structures ◽  
Different Sources ◽  
Water Hyacinth Root

Aim and Objective: Wastewater treatment/remediation is a very important process that has a great environmental and economic impact. Therefore, it is crucial to innovate different methods to remove pollutants of different sources from wastewater. This work was conducted in order to study the removal of lead (Pb+2) from wastewater using microspheres of composites of sodium alginate, cellulose and chitosan, as well as using a cost-effective green route through composites of sodium alginate and dried water hyacinth. Materials and Methods: Molecular modeling at B3LYP/6-31g(d,p) was utilized to study sodium alginate, cellulose and chitosan. Sodium alginate was cross-linked with calcium chloride to form microspheres, then both sodium alginate/cellulose and sodium alginate/chitosan were also crosslinked as 50/50 to form microspheres. The roots of the aquatic plant water hyacinth in dry form were added to the cross-linked sodium alginate for up to 70%. SEM and FTIR were employed to study the surface of the prepared microspheres and their structures respectively. Atomic absorption spectroscopy was used to study the levels of Pb. Results: Molecular modeling indicated that the blending of such structures enhances their ability to bind with surrounding molecules owing to their ability to form hydrogen bonds. SEM results indicated that homogeneous structures of cellulose and chitosan are deformed when blended with sodium alginate, and FTIR confirmed the proper formation of the desired blends. Microspheres from sodium alginate showed the ability to remove Pb+2 from wastewater. SEM indicated further deformation in the morphology with the roughness of sodium alginate/water hyacinth microspheres, while FTIR confirmed the uniform matrices of the microspheres. The removal of Pb+2 was enhanced because of the addition of dried water hyacinth's roots. Conclusion: Modeling, experimental and kinetic data highlight sodium alginate/water hyacinth root as a green route to remediate Pb+2 from wastewater.

Optimising postoperative discharge plans for patients undergoing surgical treatment for gastric cancer: a literature review

2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 34-40
Author(s):  
Lorena Chaparro-Diaz ◽  
Maria Zoraida Rojas ◽  
Sonia Patricia Carreño-Moreno
Keyword(s):  
Gastric Cancer ◽  
Literature Review ◽  
Psychosocial Support ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Gastrointestinal Surgery ◽  
Partial Gastrectomy ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Essential Elements ◽  
Cochrane Central Register ◽  
Gastric Cancer Patients

Background: Gastric (stomach) cancer is common, difficult to detect and has a high mortality rate. Many gastric cancers are treatable with invasive gastrointestinal surgery, including total or partial gastrectomy. These patients face many postoperative challenges, including pain, nausea and nutritional difficulties, as well as consequent anxiety and socio-economic challenges. Some healthcare institutions have implemented discharge plans as a cost-effective strategy to improve postoperative care. Aim: This systematic literature review aimed to identify essential elements to incorporate in the design and implementation of discharge plans for post-surgical gastric cancer patients. Methods: A systematic literature search was performed on the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Studies, Elsevier Scopus and the library database of the National University of Colombia. These articles were assessed for relevance and underwent thematic analysis. Findings: The search returned nine relevant articles in English and Spanish. They suggested that discharge plans should start from first contact with a nurse and integrate the patient and their family and carers into the process of home self-care and recovery. These plans should also guide nurses to provide ongoing patient education, nutritional interventions and psychosocial support, as well as prevention of thromboembolism and assistance with symptom management and coming to terms with a new life situation. Conclusions: Discharge plans reduce the negative impact of the disease and invasive procedures on patients, families and health systems, reducing unplanned hospitalisation and readmission. There is a need to develop and test supportive care programmes that are designed to meet the needs of patients and focus on improving patients' quality of life after this life-changing surgery.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document