Household biomass fuel use is associated with chronic childhood malnutrition: Result from a nationwide cross-sectional survey in Bangladesh

Despite significant investment, childhood malnutrition continues to be a significant public health problem especially in least developed countries. The aim of this study was to find association between household biomass fuel (BMF) use and childhood malnutrition in Bangladesh using data from Demographic and Health Survey 2011. We included a total 6891 children under 5 years of age in the analysis. The prevalence of wasting, underweight, and stunting from BMF using household was 16.1% (n = 997; 95%CI, 15.1–17.3), 39.0% (n = 2399; 95%CI, 37.1–40.9), and 43.3% (n = 2620; 95%CI, 41.6–45.1), respectively. Underweight and stunting were significantly higher among children from households using BMF compared with the children from CF using households (underweight, biomass vs clean fuel: 39.0% vs. 23.5%, p < 0.001; stunting, biomass vs clean fuel: 43.3 vs. 31.5%, p < 0.001). The use of BMF in the household was significantly associated with underweight (OR = 1.38; 95%CI: 1.10–1.73) and stunting (OR = 1.58; 95%CI: 1.18–1.98) among children <5 years of age after adjusting possible confounders in mixed effect logistic regression analysis. This study found a significant association between chronic childhood malnutrition and household BMF use which is indicating possible alternative risk factor for malnutrition. Further prospective research is required to explore the mechanism of how BMF use results in chronic malnutrition.     

Sulfurized Co-Mo Alloy Thin Films as Efficient Electrocatalysts for Hydrogen Evolution Reaction

Catalysis Letters - Here, we successfully fabricated sulfurized Co-Mo alloy thin film electrodes with different compositions and studied their catalytic properties for hydrogen evolution reaction...     

Reinforcement of graphene nanoplatelets on plasticized poly(lactic acid) nanocomposites: Mechanical,thermal, morphology,and antibacterial properties

Plasticized poly(lactic acid) (PLA)‐based nanocomposites filled with graphene nanoplatelets (xGnP) and containing poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and epoxidized palm oil (EPO) with ratio 2 : 1 (2P : 1E) as hybrid plasticizer were prepared by melt blending method. The key objective is to take advantage of plasticization to increase the material ductility while preserving valuable stiffness, strength, and toughness via addition of xGnP. The tensile modulus of PLA/2P : 1E/0.1 wt % xGnP was substantially improved (30%) with strength and elasticity maintained, as compared to plasticized PLA. TGA analysis revealed that the xGnP was capable of acting as barrier to reduce thermal diffusion across the plasticized PLA matrix, and thus enhanced thermal stability of the plasticized PLA. Incorporation of xGnP also enhanced antimicrobial activity of nanocomposites toward Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium, Staphylococcus aureus, and Listeria monocytogenes. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 41652.     

Study of morphology and gas separation properties of polysulfone/titanium dioxide mixed matrix membranes

Polysulfone (PSf)‐based mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) with the incorporation of titanium dioxide (TiO₂) nanoparticles were prepared. Distribution and agglomeration of TiO₂ in polymer matrix and also surface of membranes were observed by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and energy dispersive X‐ray. Variation in surface roughness of MMMs with different TiO₂ loadings was analyzed by atomic force microscopy. Physical properties of membranes before and after cross‐linking were identified through thermal gravimetric analysis. At low TiO₂ loadings (≤3 wt%), both CO₂ and CH₄ permeabilities decreased and consequently gas selectivity improved and reached to 36.5 at 3 bar pressure. Interestingly, PSf/TiO₂ 3 wt% membrane did not allow to CH₄ molecules to pass through the membrane and this sample just had CO₂ permeability at 1 bar pressure. Gas permeability increased considerably at high filler contents (≥5 wt%) and CO₂ permeance reached to 37.7 GPU for PSf/TiO₂ 7 wt% at 7 bar pressure. It was detected that, critical nanoparticle aggregation has occurred at higher filler loadings (≥5 wt%), which contributed to formation of macrovoids and defects in MMMs. Accordingly, MMMs with higher gas permeance and lower gas selectivity were prepared in higher TiO₂ contents (≥5 wt%). POLYM. ENG. SCI., 55:367–374, 2015. © 2014 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Mechanical Properties and Corrosion Behavior of As-Cast Mg-Zn-Zr-(La) Magnesium Alloys

The effects of La content on the mechanical properties and corrosion behavior of as-cast Mg-Zn-Zr (ZK) magnesium alloys were investigated. The results showed that La addition to ZK60 alloy resulted in a considerable grain refinement and an increase in the volume fraction of second phases by formation of Mg-Zn-La ternary phase. The tensile tests were performed at both room and elevated temperatures. At room temperature, the yield and tensile strengths and elongation-to-fracture significantly increased with 0.2 wt.% La addition, then deteriorated slightly with increasing La additions above 0.2 wt.%. At 200 °C, the yield and tensile strengths continually improved and elongation-to-fracture decreased with increasing La content due to the presence of thermally stable Mg-Zn-La phase. Immersion and electrochemical corrosion tests revealed that the formation of Mg-Zn-La phases led to a higher amount of cathodic sites and preferential corrosion propagation, and thus a decrease in the corrosion resistance of ZK60 alloys.     

Power generation potential of liquified natural gas regasification terminals

The share of liquified natural gas (LNG) in the international trade of natural gas (NG) is continually increasing. This presents increasing opportunities to build power plants to generate electricity at LNG regasification terminals rather than wasting the power generation potential of LNG at about −162°C by regasifying it by seawater, ambient air, or by burning NG. Typically, over 5% of the NG received at LNG plants is used to liquify the remaining incoming gaseous NG at environmental conditions. Theoretically, all the energy consumed at LNG liquefaction plants can be recovered at LNG regasification terminals. In this study, the theoretical and practical power generation potential of regasified LNG is investigated by performing energy and exergy analyses. It is shown that up to 0.191 kWh of electric power can be generated during the regasification of LNG per standard m³ of NG regasified. The potential economic gains associated with power generation at LNG regasification facilities are demonstrated by analyzing the 2018 LNG imports of Turkey as a case study and the world. It is shown that the 314 million tons of LNG imported globally in 2018 has the electric power generation potential of 88 billion kWh with a market value of over 10 billion USD. It also has the potential to offset 38 million tons of CO₂ emissions.     

Antioxidant and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities of eight neglected fruit extracts and UHPLC-MS/MS profile of the active extracts

The 70% ethanolic extracts from eight neglected fruits; Muntingia calabura, Leucaena leucocephala, Spondias dulcis, Syzygium jambos, Mangifera caesia, Ardisia elliptica, Cynometra cauliflora and Ficus auriculata were evaluated for their 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging, α-glucosidase inhibitory activities as well as total phenolic content. The results of this study revealed that M. caesia fruit extract demonstrated the most potent radical scavenging activity. Among the fruits examined for α-glucosidase inhibitory activity, M. calabura and F. auriculata exhibited strong activity with no significant difference. The Pearson correlation indicated that the activities of M. caesia and F. auriculata contributed by phenolic compounds. A total of 65 metabolites were tentatively identified by using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UHLPC-MS/MS). These findings suggested that the possible application of M. caesia and F. auriculata as a functional food with antioxidant and α-glucosidase inhibitory properties.