Cox proportional hazards modelling of blockage risk in vitrified clay wastewater pipes

Older wastewater systems often contain vitrified clay pipes and these pipes are responsible for a significant proportion of blockages. From previous research and site experience, it is known that age, installation period, pipe length, diameter, depth and joint type affect the risk of blockage. Using statistical analysis we extend this list of variables to include soil type, road/rail proximity and road type. The analysis is based on blockage data for 43,976 vitrified clay pipes over a 7 year period. A Cox proportional hazards modelling (PHM) approach using established and new explanatory variables finds that pipe depth, pipe length, pipe gradient, pipe diameter, submergence in water, joint type, pipe installation decade, soil type, road proximity to the pipe, pipe purpose, land use code and road type are associated with risk of blockage. Pipes with the highest risk of failure due to blockage are identified and their locations and risk level are visually represented on a colour coded map. This analysis approach can be used by asset managers working in cost-constrained environments to appropriately target inspection, plan maintenance and replacement programs.     

Sargassum swartzii extracts ameliorate memory functions by neurochemical modulation in a rat model

Food Science and Biotechnology - Recently, considerable attention has been paid to drug exploration from natural sources for treating memory loss, a major manifestation of various neurodegenerative...     

Bi and Tri Metal Salt Combinations plus Colorants Extracted from Timber Industry Waste as Effective Dyeing Materials to Produce Novel Shades on Wool

This study was undertaken to propose alternative use for teak leaves, a timber industry byproduct, as potential dyeing source for wool fibers. The coloring potential of anthraquinone colorants from teak leaves were studied on wool with pre-mordanting method using double and triple mix metal salt combinations (ferrous sulphate, stannous chloride and potassium aluminum sulphate) as mordants. Thirty-six sober and elegant shades were developed on wool by varying the type of metal involved in combination as well as concentration of the dye. The hue of color developed ranged from light orange—brown to dark brown. The color strength (K/S) has been found to be very good in dyed woolen yarn samples and particularly was highest for iron + alum combination. Color fastness with respect to light exposure washing, rubbing for the developed shades ranged between good to very good, which confirmed the possibility of using waste leaves of Tectona grandis as a source of effective brown natural dye.     

Developing a Shade Range on Wool by Madder (Rubia cordifolia) Root Extract with Gallnut (Quercus infectoria) as Biomordant

Environmental issues inspire the revival of natural dyes that exhibit better biodegradability and more compatibility over synthetic ones. This research is aimed to investigate the effect of color and fastness properties on wool yarn substrate with natural anthraquinone colorants extracted from madder roots using gallnut (Quercus infectoria) extract as anchoring agent. Prior to the dyeing with Indian Madder (Rubia cordifolia), wool fibers were pre and post-treated with different concentrations of gallnut extract (viz 1–5% o.w.f) to get a broad range of beautiful and color fast shades. The feasibility of gallnut extract as an anchoring agent and its effect on color strength and color fastness to light, rubbing, and washing was investigated. Results of color characteristics showed that the color coordinates of the dyed samples were situated in the red-yellow quadrant of the CIELabcolor space. Bio-mordanting with gallnut extract produced shades of practically acceptable color depth, color fastness to light, washing and rubbing. Pre-treatment with gallnut extract is dominated over post-treatment in terms of better colorimetric and fastness results.     

Water-Lubricated Ni-Based Composite(Ni-Al_2O_3,Ni-SiC and Ni-ZrO_2)Thin Film Coatings for Industrial Applications

In this work,pure nickel and Ni-based nanocomposite coatings(N1-Al_2O_3,Ni-SiC and Ni-ZrO_2) were produced on steel substrate by using pulse electrodeposition technique.The industrial performance tests were conducted to evaluate the wear resistance,corrosion resistance,adhesion strength and wettability behaviour of newly developed coatings.Rolling contact ball-on-disc tribometer was used to assess anti-wear behaviour of these coatings under waterlubricated contacts.The results showed that the wear- and corrosion resistance properties of nickel alumina and Ni-SiC composite coatings significantly improved than that of pure Ni and Ni-ZrO_2 coatings.The adhesion and wettability results of Ni-Al_2O_3 composite showed better performance when compared to the rest of the coatings.The effects of incorporating nanoparticles on the surface microstructure,interface adhesion and distribution of the particles were also investigated.The coatings were characterized by using scanning electron microscopy,X-ray diffraction analysis and 3D white light interferometry.The wear failure behaviour of these coatings was further examined by post-test surface observation under optical microscope.     

Anti‐inflammatory Potential of Quercetin‐3‐O‐β‐D‐(“2”‐galloyl)‐glucopyranoside and Quercetin Isolated from Diospyros kaki calyx via Suppression of MAP Signaling Molecules in LPS‐induced RAW 264.7 Macrophages

Diospyros kaki (DK) contains an abundance of flavonoids and has been used in folk medicine in Korea for centuries. Here, we report for the first time the anti‐inflammatory activities of Quercetin (QCT) and Quercetin 3‐O‐β‐(“2”‐galloyl)‐glucopyranoside (Q32G) isolated from DK. We have determine the no cytotoxicity of Q32G and QCT against RAW 264.7 cells up to concentration of 50 μM. QCT and Q32G demonstrated potent anti‐inflammatory activities by reducing expression of nitric oxide (NO), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐α, interleukin (IL)‐1β, IL‐6 inducible NO synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase (COX)‐2, and mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPKs) in mouse RAW 264.7 macrophages activated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Both QCT or Q32G could decrease cellular protein levels of COX‐2 and iNOS as well as secreted protein levels of NO, PGE₂, and cytokines (TNF‐α, IL‐1β, and IL‐6) in culture medium of LPS‐stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. Immunoblot analysis showed that QCT and Q32G suppressed LPS‐induced MAP kinase pathway proteins p‐p38, ERK, and JNK. This study revealed that QCT and Q32G have anti‐inflammatory potential, however Q32G possess comparable activity as that of QCT and could be use as adjuvant to treat inflammatory diseases.