scholarly journals Structure and Functions of Cocoons Constructed by Eri Silkworm

Polymers ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. 2701
Author(s):  
Bin Zhou ◽  
Huiling Wang

Eri silkworm cocoons (E cocoons) are natural composite biopolymers formed by continuous twin silk filaments (fibroin) bonded by sericin. As a kind of wild species, E cocoons have characteristics different from those of Bombyx mori cocoons (B cocoons). E cocoons have an obvious multilayer (5–9 layers) structure with an eclosion hole at one end and several air gaps between the layers, which can be classified into three categories—cocoon coat, cocoon layer, and cocoon lining—with varying performance indexes. There is a significant secondary fracture phenomenon during the tensile process, which is attributed to the high modulus of the cocoon lining and its dense structure. Air gaps provide cocoons with distinct multistage moisture transmission processes, which form a good moisture buffer effect. Temperature change inside cocoons is evidently slower than that outside, which indicates that cocoons also have an obvious temperature damping capability. The eclosion hole does not have much effect on heat preservation of E cocoons. The high sericin content of the cocoon coat, as well as the excellent ultraviolet absorption and antimicrobial abilities of sericin, allows E cocoons to effectively prevent ultraviolet rays and microorganisms from invading pupae. The ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) of the E cocoon before and after degumming were found to be 17.8% and 9.7%, respectively, which were higher than those of the B cocoon (15.3% and 4.4%, respectively), indicating that sericin has a great impact on anti-UV performance. In the cocoon structure, the outer layer of the cocoon has 50% higher content than the inner layer, and the E cocoon shows stronger protection ability than the B cocoon. Understanding the relationship between the structure, property, and function of E cocoons will provide bioinspiration and methods for designing new composites.

Author(s):  
Marzia Islam ◽  
Tarifun Akter ◽  
Jannatul Ferdush ◽  
Kamrunnahar Kamrunnahar

In thisstudy, the effect of fabric density and different colors (black and red) on ultraviolet protection factor of woven fabric investigated. The fabric of different composition (100% cotton, 60/40 CVC), two color (black, red) and various density (Ends per inch, Picks per inch) collected. Then UPF rating was measured by spectrophotometer in vitro method. Experimental result showed that higher the fabric density and weight; higher the protection from ultraviolet rays. Besides, it also revealed that black fabric has more UV protection ability than the red one. Another finding of this study is that polyester content increases the UPF value.


Polymers ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (9) ◽  
pp. 2029
Author(s):  
Kai Yang ◽  
Aravin Prince Periyasamy ◽  
Mohanapriya Venkataraman ◽  
Jiri Militky ◽  
Dana Kremenakova ◽  
...  

Resistance against penetration of various rays including electromagnetic waves (EM), infrared rays (IR), and ultraviolet rays (UV) has been realized by using copper (Cu)-coated fabrics. However, the corrosion of the Cu on coated fabrics influenced the shielding effectiveness of the various rays. Besides, the metal-coated fabrics have high density and are unbreathable. This work aims to solve the problem by incorporating nickel (Ni) into the Cu coating on the ultra-light polyester fibrous materials (Milife® composite nonwoven fabric—10 g/m2, abbreviation Milife) via electroless plating. The electromagnetic interference (EMI), IR test, ultraviolet protection factor (UPF), water contact angle, and air permeability of the Cu/Ni-coated Milife fabric were measured. All the samples were assumed as ultra-light and breathable by obtaining the similar fabric density (~10.57 g/m2) and large air permeability (600–1050 mm/s). The Cu/Ni deposition on the Milife fabrics only covered the fibers. The EM shielding effectiveness (SE) decreased from 26 to 20 dB, the IR reflectance (Rinfrared) decreased from 0.570 to 0.473 with increasing wNi from 0 to 19.5 wt %, while the wNi improved the UPF from 9 to 48. Besides, addition of Ni changed the Cu/Ni-coated Milife fabric from hydrophilicity to the hydrophobicity by observing WCA from 77.7° to 114°.


2019 ◽  
pp. 121-131

Introduction: Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer among women in Brazil and in the worl. The surgical treatment procedure may cause severe morbidity in the upper limb homolateral to surgery, including the reduction of the range of motion, with consequent impairment of function. A physiotherapeutic approach has an important role in the recover range of motion and the functionality of these women, guaranteeing the occupational, domestestic, familiar and conjugated activities, and, in this way, also improving the quality of life. Objectives: To analyse chances in the shoulder's range of motion and the functional capacity of the upper limbs, promoted by the deep running procedure in women with late postoperative mastectomy. Methods: All the patients were submitted to an evaluation in the beginning and end of the treatment, including: goniometry of flexion, extension, abduction, adduction, internal and external rotation of the shoulder joint; and function capacity analysis in activities that involve the upper members by DASH questionnaire. The treatment protocol includes twelve sessions of deep running, realized twice a week, in deep pool, for 20-minute during six weeks. Results: Were submitted to treatment a total of 4 patients. Despite the improvement in the numerical values, statistically significant differences were not found on the range of movements and in the functional capacity of upper members before and after the deep running sessions in post-mastectomy women. Conclusion: Deep running had effects on the numerical values of range of movement and upper limb functionality in women in the late postoperative period of the mastectomy procedure, but without statistically significant differences.


Medicina ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 57 (6) ◽  
pp. 554
Author(s):  
Stefan Naydenov ◽  
Nikolay Runev ◽  
Emil Manov

Background and Objectives: Patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), lasting >48 h, considered for cardioversion, are recommended ≥3 weeks of oral anticoagulation before sinus rhythm restoration because of high risk of development of left atrial thrombosis (LAT) and stroke. However, the optimal duration of anticoagulation in the presence of overt LAT is unknown. Materials and Methods: An open-label study aimed to investigate the prevalence of spontaneous echo contrast (SEC) and LAT before and after 3 weeks of direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) treatment. We included 51 consecutive patients (50.9% males), mean age 69.3 ± 7.4 years with paroxysmal/unknown duration of AF, considered for cardioversion, who agreed to have transesophageal echocardiography at enrollment and 3 weeks later. Results: At baseline SEC was present in 26 (50.9%) and LAT in 10 (19.6%) of 51 patients. After 3 weeks on DOAC, SEC persisted in 12 (25.0%) and LAT in 7 (14.5%) of 48 patients, p < 0.05 vs. baseline. Factors, associated most strongly with persistence of SEC/LAT, were left atrial appendage (LAA) emptying velocity <20 cm/s (OR = 2.82), LAA lobes >2 (OR = 1.84), and indexed left atrial volume ≥34 mL/m2 (OR = 1.37). Conclusions: In our study the incidence of SEC/LAT, particularly in AF with unknown duration, was not as low as we expected. The prevalence of SEC/LAT seemed to be dependent on factors not routinely evaluated in AF patients planned for cardioversion (indexed LA volume, LAA morphology and number of lobules, LAA emptying velocity, etc.). Our data suggested an individualized approach for DOAC duration in AF patients before an attempt for restoration of sinus rhythm is made, taking into consideration the LAA morphology and function.


Circulation ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 138 (Suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ashish Patel ◽  
Divya Shakti ◽  
Chad Blackshear

Introduction & Hypothesis: There is limited information on right atrial (RA) function in the congenital heart defects. RA volume and function may give insight into the right ventricle (RV) diastolic function. We sought to assess RA function in tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) patients prior to and after complete surgical repair. Methods: Infants with TOF prior to complete repair were included for retrospective chart review and offline analysis of 2-dimensional echocardiograms (echo) before and after surgical repair. RA phasic volumes and stroke volumes were calculated. All volumes were indexed to body surface area. Results: There were 40 infants with TOF (45% females), of which 70% had pulmonary stenosis, 30% pulmonary atresia. Roughly 85% and 60% had 3, or more, echo available pre- and postoperatively. Table 1 (attached) shows the patient characteristics and phasic RA volumes. The indexed RA phasic volumes were in normal range in initial echo prior to surgery. We used normal index RA phasic volumes published by European Society of Echocardiography. There was the increasing trend of indexed RA phasic volume on follow up echo immediately before TOF repair. These phasic volumes continued to remain elevated after complete surgical repair (Table 1). Trends in RA stroke volumes for all available echos before and after surgery were modeled using a population-averaged model with an exchangeable within-panel correlation structure (Figure 2), showing no statistically significant difference after surgery. But there was statistical significance noted in RA ejection fraction. Please see attached image for statistical analysis and results of the study. Conclusions: The indexed RA phasic volumes in children with TOF are normal initially and increases before TOF repair and it continued to increase after TOF repair. The increase RA phasic volumes suggest RV diastolic dysfunction similar to the findings of LA phasic volumes and left ventricular diastolic dysfunction. Our findings indicate slow worsening RV diastolic function in patients with TOF after surgical repair. RA volume and function can be the novel marker to diagnose and monitor right ventricular diastolic dysfunction.


1984 ◽  
Vol 67 (2) ◽  
pp. 259-267 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. K. Davies ◽  
P. Cummins ◽  
W. A. Littler

1. Electrophoretic and enzyme techniques have been used to study the structure and function of the contractile protein system in the myocardium of dogs before and after β-adrenoceptor blockade. Animals were examined after acute β-adrenoceptor blockade by using intravenous atenolol (0.2 mg/kg) and following chronic therapy with oral atenolol (100 mg twice daily) for a mean period of 106 days. 2. Two-dimensional polyacrylamide-gel electrophoretic techniques were used to examine the myocardial contractile and regulatory proteins present in endomyocardial biopsy specimens obtained after acute and chronic β-adrenoceptor blockade. No differences in charge, molecular weight or the relative proportions of actin, myosin light chains, tropomyosin or troponin-C were seen after either acute or chronic β-adrenoceptor blockade. 3. The maximal activity and calcium sensitivity of the myofibrillar adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) was also unchanged after acute and chronic atenolol therapy. 4. It is concluded that β-adrenoceptor blockade has no significant adaptive effect on the structural or functional properties of the myofibril.


eLife ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bargavi Thyagarajan ◽  
Jesse D Bloom

Influenza is notable for its evolutionary capacity to escape immunity targeting the viral hemagglutinin. We used deep mutational scanning to examine the extent to which a high inherent mutational tolerance contributes to this antigenic evolvability. We created mutant viruses that incorporate most of the ≈104 amino-acid mutations to hemagglutinin from A/WSN/1933 (H1N1) influenza. After passaging these viruses in tissue culture to select for functional variants, we used deep sequencing to quantify mutation frequencies before and after selection. These data enable us to infer the preference for each amino acid at each site in hemagglutinin. These inferences are consistent with existing knowledge about the protein's structure and function, and can be used to create a model that describes hemagglutinin's evolution far better than existing phylogenetic models. We show that hemagglutinin has a high inherent tolerance for mutations at antigenic sites, suggesting that this is one factor contributing to influenza's antigenic evolution.


Author(s):  
Edgaras Lapinskas ◽  
Janina Stirbytė

Background. Neck pain is a common problem, and it includes 30% of 25–29 year olds. The percentage of people over 45 years of age has risen to 50% (Knight and Draper, 2012). Long-term muscle imbalance disrupts body biomechanics. Due to long-lasting pain, the quality of work may decrease, rest can get worse, and mood may change. Purpose. To determine the effect of temporomandibular joint mobilization for neck pain and function in patients who suffer chronic non-specifc neck pain. Methods. The study involved six people with non-specifc chronic neck pain, who were divided into two groups: exercises, and the second group – exercises and mobilization of temporomandibular joint. At the beginning and end of the study, we performed the following tests: deep neck flexor endurance test, visual analogue scale (VAS), goniometry, the amplitude of the temporomandibular joint. Results. In the group of exercises, the pain score after treatment decreased (before – 67 ± 28, after – 14 ± 16.5) the strength and endurance of the deep neck flexor muscle improved (before – 13.7 ± 2.5 s, after – 28.7 ± 6.4 s). The amplitude of all neck movements was improved (p < 0.05), comparing them before and after physiotherapy. The amplitude of the temporomandibular joint improved the movement characteristics: depression, lateral excursions to left and right, protrusion (p < 0.05). Conclusions. Comparing the results after applying different methods of physiotherapy, intensity of pain and neck function parameters did not show significant differences.Keywords: temporomandibular joint, nonspecifc neck pain, mobilization.


2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-14
Author(s):  
Chin Yi Sul ◽  
Ana Lucia Morocho-Jacomel ◽  
Fabiana Vieira Lima ◽  
Gabriela Argollo Marques ◽  
Wendi Lucia Avila Rodriguez ◽  
...  

The use of functional bioactive ingredients and the property of water resistance are differentials in the choice of more effective and safer sunscreens. Water-resistance tests are expensive, time-consuming, and usually performed on subjects that expose them to irradiation and long immersion times. Thus, the study of in vitro water resistance using different film/ barrier-forming agents is relevant for obtaining sunscreen resistant to rinsing. We aimed to evaluate the water resistance of a rutin-based bioactive sunscreen containing distinct film/barrier-forming agents by an in vitro method. The in vitro water resistance assessment (% WRR) was carried out in a water bath. In vitro sun protection factor (SPF), critical A, (nm), UVA/UVB ratio, and UVA protection factor (UVA-PF(0)) were evaluated before and after rinsing using a diffuse reflectance spectrophotometer with integration sphere. The formulation with dimethicone showed higher values of SPF after rinsing and achieved the requirement of % WRR greater than 50%. All formulations showed similar variations for all other parameters. The results highlighted the property of water resistance provided by the dimethicone, indicating that this emollient is an interesting ingredient choice for sunscreens.


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