scholarly journals Multi-Modal Contractive Forces of Wools as Actuator

Polymers ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 1464
Author(s):  
Shanshan Zhu ◽  
Jinlian Hu
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Model ◽  
Stress Evolution ◽  
Double Peak ◽  
Stress Mode ◽  
Large Potential ◽  
Stable Manner ◽  
History Of ◽  
History Of Use ◽  
Shape Changes ◽  
Polymeric Blend

Wool has a long history of use in textiles throughout human civilization. Many smart functions such as reversible shape changes to various stimuli have been demonstrated in the last few years. However, the force-related characteristics are still imperfectly recognized, although they are expected to be used as actuators due to their biological origins and broad applications. Herein, we investigated the feasibility of wools in performing actuating ability through its intrinsic structures and fabrication methods. The diverse modes of contractive forces were obtained in wool materials including platform-like, double-peak, and slope-like shapes, where a molecular model was also presented to trace the origins of stress evolution. After that, a polymeric blend was created to modify the wool materials and a dissimilar performance of stress production was achieved, a square stress mode with stable manner and maintenance, for broad applications in a more efficient way. It is believed that these actuating properties extracted from natural hairs have a large potential in current smart applications and lay down new inspiration in designing actuators.

scholarly journals Jojoba Oil: An Updated Comprehensive Review on Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Uses, and Toxicity

Polymers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 1711
Author(s):  
Heba A. Gad ◽  
Autumn Roberts ◽  
Samirah H. Hamzi ◽  
Haidy A. Gad ◽  
Ilham Touiss ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Industrial Applications ◽  
Literature Survey ◽  
Jojoba Oil ◽  
Pharmacological Activities ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Liver Functions ◽  
History Of ◽  
History Of Use ◽  
Pharmaceutical Uses ◽  
Obesity And Cancer

Jojoba is a widely used medicinal plant that is cultivated worldwide. Its seeds and oil have a long history of use in folklore to treat various ailments, such as skin and scalp disorders, superficial wounds, sore throat, obesity, and cancer; for improvement of liver functions, enhancement of immunity, and promotion of hair growth. Extensive studies on Jojoba oil showed a wide range of pharmacological applications, including antioxidant, anti-acne and antipsoriasis, anti-inflammatory, antifungal, antipyretic, analgesic, antimicrobial, and anti-hyperglycemia activities. In addition, Jojoba oil is widely used in the pharmaceutical industry, especially in cosmetics for topical, transdermal, and parenteral preparations. Jojoba oil also holds value in the industry as an anti-rodent, insecticides, lubricant, surfactant, and a source for the production of bioenergy. Jojoba oil is considered among the top-ranked oils due to its wax, which constitutes about 98% (mainly wax esters, few free fatty acids, alcohols, and hydrocarbons). In addition, sterols and vitamins with few triglyceride esters, flavonoids, phenolic and cyanogenic compounds are also present. The present review represents an updated literature survey about the chemical composition of jojoba oil, its physical properties, pharmacological activities, pharmaceutical and industrial applications, and toxicity.

scholarly journals The Botanical, Chemical and Ethnobotanical Diversity of Southern African Lamiaceae

Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (12) ◽  
pp. 3712
Author(s):  
Ryan D. Rattray ◽  
Ben-Erik Van Wyk
Keyword(s):  
Southern Africa ◽  
Folk Medicine ◽  
Taxonomic Diversity ◽  
Volatile Oils ◽  
Edible Plant ◽  
Flora Of Southern Africa ◽  
Traditional Uses ◽  
History Of ◽  
Pharmaceutical Industries ◽  
History Of Use

The Lamiaceae is undoubtedly an important plant family, having a rich history of use that spans the globe with many species being used in folk medicine and modern industries alike. Their ability to produce aromatic volatile oils has made them valuable sources of materials in the cosmetic, culinary, and pharmaceutical industries. A thorough account of the taxonomic diversity, chemistry and ethnobotany is lacking for southern African Lamiaceae, which feature some of the region’s most notable medicinal and edible plant species. We provide a comprehensive insight into the Lamiaceae flora of southern Africa, comprising 297 species in 42 genera, 105 of which are endemic to the subcontinent. We further explore the medicinal and traditional uses, where all genera with documented uses are covered for the region. A broad review of the chemistry of southern African Lamiaceae is presented, noting that only 101 species (34%) have been investigated chemically (either their volatile oils or phytochemical characterization of secondary metabolites), thus presenting many and varied opportunities for further studies. The main aim of our study was therefore to present an up-to-date account of the botany, chemistry and traditional uses of the family in southern Africa, and to identify obvious knowledge gaps.

scholarly journals Nanomedicine Reformulation of Chloroquine and Hydroxychloroquine

Molecules ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 175
Author(s):  
David M. Stevens ◽  
Rachael M. Crist ◽  
Stephan T. Stern
Keyword(s):  
Safety Evaluation ◽  
Therapeutic Index ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Tissue Concentrations ◽  
History Of ◽  
History Of Use ◽  
Novel Applications ◽  
Therapeutic Doses ◽  
Extensive Clinical Experience ◽  
Higher Doses

The chloroquine family of antimalarials has a long history of use, spanning many decades. Despite this extensive clinical experience, novel applications, including use in autoimmune disorders, infectious disease, and cancer, have only recently been identified. While short term use of chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine is safe at traditional therapeutic doses in patients without predisposing conditions, administration of higher doses and for longer durations are associated with toxicity, including retinotoxicity. Additional liabilities of these medications include pharmacokinetic profiles that require extended dosing to achieve therapeutic tissue concentrations. To improve chloroquine therapy, researchers have turned toward nanomedicine reformulation of chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine to increase exposure of target tissues relative to off-target tissues, thereby improving the therapeutic index. This review highlights these reformulation efforts to date, identifying issues in experimental designs leading to ambiguity regarding the nanoformulation improvements and lack of thorough pharmacokinetics and safety evaluation. Gaps in our current understanding of these formulations, as well as recommendations for future formulation efforts, are presented.

scholarly journals Aquaculture Production of the Brown Seaweeds Laminaria digitata and Macrocystis pyrifera: Applications in Food and Pharmaceuticals

Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (5) ◽  
pp. 1306
Author(s):  
Diane Purcell-Meyerink ◽  
Michael A. Packer ◽  
Thomas T. Wheeler ◽  
Maria Hayes
Keyword(s):  
Dietary Supplements ◽  
Functional Foods ◽  
Folk Medicine ◽  
Macrocystis Pyrifera ◽  
Fish Feed ◽  
Laminaria Digitata ◽  
Brown Seaweeds ◽  
Commercial Potential ◽  
History Of ◽  
History Of Use

Seaweeds have a long history of use as food, as flavouring agents, and find use in traditional folk medicine. Seaweed products range from food, feed, and dietary supplements to pharmaceuticals, and from bioenergy intermediates to materials. At present, 98% of the seaweed required by the seaweed industry is provided by five genera and only ten species. The two brown kelp seaweeds Laminaria digitata, a native Irish species, and Macrocystis pyrifera, a native New Zealand species, are not included in these eleven species, although they have been used as dietary supplements and as animal and fish feed. The properties associated with the polysaccharides and proteins from these two species have resulted in increased interest in them, enabling their use as functional foods. Improvements and optimisations in aquaculture methods and bioproduct extractions are essential to realise the commercial potential of these seaweeds. Recent advances in optimising these processes are outlined in this review, as well as potential future applications of L. digitata and, to a greater extent, M. pyrifera which, to date, has been predominately only wild-harvested. These include bio-refinery processing to produce ingredients for nutricosmetics, functional foods, cosmeceuticals, and bioplastics. Areas that currently limit the commercial potential of these two species are highlighted.

The “Millstätter Predigten” (Millstatt Sermons), Petrus Berchorius, and Mechthild of Magdeburg

Daphnis ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 50 (1) ◽  
pp. 59-84
Author(s):  
Sabine Seelbach
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Memory ◽  
Educational History ◽  
Mechthild Of Magdeburg ◽  
The World ◽  
History Of ◽  
History Of Use ◽  
Shed Light

Abstract This article presents the project “Virtual Benedictine library Millstatt” (www.virtbibmillstatt.com/), which is dedicated to the cultural memory and educational history of Carinthia in the broadest sense. It aims to reconstruct the hitherto little-known and little-researched corpus of manuscripts from the Benedictine Abbey of Millstatt, to identify its texts, and to shed light on their history of use. Against the background of the eventful history of ownership of the Millstatt library, the problems that arise when trying to reliably assign manuscripts scattered around the world to the Millstatt corpus are outlined. Examples will be used to show the extent to which external features (binding, signature system, accessories), but also text-internal indications, make the origin and ownership history of the manuscripts traceable. Spectacular new finds are presented, but also erroneous assumptions about the affiliation of certain texts to the reading canon of the Millstatt Benedictines are pointed out.

scholarly journals Selection for increased tibia length in mice alters skull shape through parallel changes in developmental mechanisms

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Colton M. Unger ◽  
Jay Devine ◽  
Benedikt Hallgrímsson ◽  
Campbell Rolian
Keyword(s):  
Endochondral Ossification ◽  
Morphological Changes ◽  
Cranial Base ◽  
Direct Selection ◽  
Micro Ct ◽  
Growth Plates ◽  
History Of ◽  
Selection For ◽  
Tibia Length ◽  
Shape Changes

AbstractBones in the vertebrate cranial base and limb skeleton grow by endochondral ossification, under the control of growth plates. Mechanisms of endochondral ossification are conserved across growth plates, which increases covariation in size and shape among bones, and in turn may lead to correlated changes in skeletal traits not under direct selection. We used micro-CT and geometric morphometrics to characterize shape changes in the cranium of the Longshanks mouse, which was selectively bred for longer tibiae. We show that Longshanks skulls became longer, flatter, and narrower in a stepwise process. Moreover, we show that these morphological changes likely resulted from developmental changes in the growth plates of the Longshanks cranial base, mirroring changes observed in its tibia. Thus, indirect and non-adaptive morphological changes can occur due to developmental overlap among distant skeletal elements, with important implications for interpreting the evolutionary history of vertebrate skeletal form.

scholarly journals Mortar mixes with oxblood: historical background, model sample recipes and properties

2018 ◽  
Vol 45 ◽  
pp. 19-24 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kun Zhang ◽  
Laura Rampazzi ◽  
Maria Pia Riccardi ◽  
Antonio Sansonetti ◽  
Alberto Grimoldi
Keyword(s):  
Building Materials ◽  
Historical Background ◽  
Organic Additives ◽  
X Ray Diffraction ◽  
Amorphous Calcium Carbonate ◽  
Historical Building ◽  
Model Sample ◽  
History Of ◽  
History Of Architecture ◽  
History Of Use

Abstract. In this survey we present studies on mortar mixes added with oxblood, which was a commonly found local waste material, with a wide application and long history of use; a precise recipe of lime–pozzolan mortar with blood addition from a 19th-century Italian manual was chosen, and model samples were prepared accordingly, with the aim of better understanding the chemical, mineralogical and physical characteristics of such compositions, starting with a blank reference specimen. The specimens were analysed by means of scanning electron microscopy, infrared spectroscopy, thermal analysis and X-ray diffraction, and the results suggested that amorphous calcium carbonate could be formed in the specimens with oxblood addition. These preliminary results allow a better understanding of historical building practices, measuring effects induced by organic additives on mortar microstructure, as well as an evaluation of new performances obtained in mortar mixes. Moreover, this paper intends to propose a full multi-discipline approach to bridge the history of architecture and building materials to conservation science.

Detection of potential look-alike/sound-alike medication errors using Veterans Affairs administrative databases

2018 ◽  
Vol 75 (19) ◽  
pp. 1460-1466 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica M. Zacher ◽  
Francesca E. Cunningham ◽  
Xinhua Zhao ◽  
Muriel L. Burk ◽  
Von R. Moore ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Medication Errors ◽  
Chart Review ◽  
Veterans Affairs ◽  
Error Rates ◽  
High Rate ◽  
Administrative Databases ◽  
Potential Error ◽  
Actual Error ◽  
History Of ◽  
History Of Use

Abstract Purpose Results of a study to estimate the prevalence of look-alike/sound-alike (LASA) medication errors through analysis of Veterans Affairs (VA) administrative data are reported. Methods Veterans with at least 2 filled prescriptions for 1 medication in 20 LASA drug pairs during the period April 2014–March 2015 and no history of use of both medications in the preceding 6 months were identified. First occurrences of potential LASA errors were identified by analyzing dispensing patterns and documented diagnoses. For 7 LASA drug pairs, potential errors were evaluated via chart review to determine if an actual error occurred. Results Among LASA drug pairs with overlapping indications, the pairs associated with the highest potential-error rates, by percentage of treated patients, were tamsulosin and terazosin (3.05%), glipizide and glyburide (2.91%), extended- and sustained-release formulations of bupropion (1.53%), and metoprolol tartrate and metoprolol succinate (1.48%). Among pairs with distinct indications, the pairs associated with the highest potential-error rates were tramadol and trazodone (2.20%) and bupropion and buspirone (1.31%). For LASA drug pairs found to be associated with actual errors, the estimated error rates were as follows: lamivudine and lamotrigine, 0.003% (95% confidence interval [CI], 0–0.01%); carbamazepine and oxcarbazepine, 0.03% (95% CI, 0–0.09%); and morphine and hydromorphone, 0.02% (95% CI, 0–0.05%). Conclusion Through the use of administrative databases, potential LASA errors that could be reviewed for an actual error via chart review were identified. While a high rate of potential LASA errors was detected, the number of actual errors identified was low.

scholarly journals History of Use and Trade of Agarwood

2018 ◽  
Vol 72 (1) ◽  
pp. 107-129 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arlene López-Sampson ◽  
Tony Page
Keyword(s):  
History Of ◽  
History Of Use

Exotica, Fashion and Immortality: The New Use of Gold in Han Dynasty China (206 bce–ce 220)

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-16
Author(s):  
Shengyu Wang
Keyword(s):  
Chinese Culture ◽  
Composite System ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Han Dynasty ◽  
Eighth Century ◽  
Third Century ◽  
Chinese History ◽  
Eurasian Steppe ◽  
History Of ◽  
History Of Use

This article explores the use of gold in the elite tombs of Han dynasty China, the popular use of which originated outside the Chinese cultural milieu, and its integration into the Han portfolio of materials representing people's expectations for the afterlife, such as immortality and well-being. In contrast to jade, which had a long history of use in China, gold was in itself a ‘new’ element of Chinese culture. This article outlines the introduction of gold objects from Europe and Central Asia via the Eurasian Steppe and borderland of China from around the eighth century bce. The unprecedented use of gold in the Han-specific jade suits, and the process by which foreign types of zoomorphic motifs were adopted and connected with local motifs, are explored. In light of the political change from multiple competing states before the first unification in Chinese history in the third century bce, and the development in ideology and concept of an ideal and eternal afterlife, this article explains the reasons and meanings of the new use of gold in Han dynasty China and the composite system of motifs, materials and objects.

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