Sheraz Ahmad - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Sheraz Ahmad

Research paper thumbnail of Therapeutic Effect of Sunflower Seeds and Flax Seeds on Diabetes

Cureus

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic syndrome that is spreading like an epidemic throughout the ... more Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic syndrome that is spreading like an epidemic throughout the world without any differentiation of races and ethnic groups and has become the cause of death worldwide. It is characterized by high levels of glucose in the blood and has different types classified on the basis of varying pathophysiology. Type 1 diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes is characterized by insulin insufficiency due to autoimmune dysfunction. Type 2 diabetes or non-insulin-dependent diabetes results from the combination of resistance to insulin action or/and inadequate insulin secretion. Gestational diabetes (GDM) is defined as hyperglycemia due to insulin resistance during pregnancy. Other types include the monogenic type of DM such as neonatal diabetes mellitus (NDM), maturity-onset diabetes of young (MODY), and diabetes in metabolic syndrome. Diabetes is diagnosed by criteria given by American Diabetes Association (ADA) for different tests like fasting plasma glucose test and hemoglobin A1c test. It is characterized by polydipsia, polyphagia, hyperglycemia, and glucosuria. Diabetes mellitus is managed through medications but many studies have proven that consumption of particular foods leads to decreased glucose levels in diabetic patients. Seeds like sunflower and flax seeds have a role in the reduction of glucose levels and can be used to treat type 2 diabetes. The bioactive components in these seeds like chlorogenic acid in sunflower seeds and secoisolariciresinol diglucosoid are involved in the treatment of insulin resistance or insulin production. In different studies, different amounts of these seed extracts were consumed by rats and humans and it resulted in better glycemic control, which provides information that these seeds have anti-diabetic properties.

Research paper thumbnail of Development of optimized triaxially electrospun titania nanofiber‐in‐nanotube core‐shell structure

Journal of Applied Polymer Science

Research paper thumbnail of First cancer statistics report from Hazara division

Journal of Ayub Medical College, Abbottabad : JAMC, 2013

BACKGROUND 'Cancer' is on rise globally. Cancer registry is vital for policy making, reso... more BACKGROUND 'Cancer' is on rise globally. Cancer registry is vital for policy making, resource allocation, progress tracking and overall cancer control. In Pakistan, cancer prevention, screening and standardised clinical trials, as well as quality assurance through surveillance are badly hampered due to the lack of a National Cancer Registry. For Pakistan a well-integrated system of Cancer Registry is need of the day. METHODS This retrospective study was conducted on the hospital records at the Oncology Department of Ayub Teaching Hospital, Abbottabad from year 2007-12. Data were collected tIhrough a standard data capture form with a final figure of 555 patients. The malignancies were diagnosed clinically and histopathologically at different laboratories of Pakistan. RESULTS Among these cases, 54.08% were male and 45.92% female. Incidence of cancer in patients below 14 years age was 8.47% and 91.53% above 14 years. Majority (31.95%) cases were from Mansehra followed by Abbott...

Research paper thumbnail of Development and characterization of biodegradable starch-based fibre by wet extrusion

Cellulose, 2021

The man-made fibres have the versatility of required engineered properties. The biodegradability ... more The man-made fibres have the versatility of required engineered properties. The biodegradability is the need of the day. This study aimed at development of biodegradable starch based fibers using wet extrusion technique. The non-modified natural starch is cost efficient and wet extrusion technique will support bulk production of fibre without any change in chemical structure of material. Multiple additives such as plasticizers and binders were added to the dope solution in different concentrations to study their effect on physical properties, mechanical performance and serviceability of the wet-spun starch fibers. The ranges of additive concentrations in (% wt/v) used to make the dope solutions are as follows: starch; 38–64%, Polyvinyl Alchohol (PVA); 7–23%, glycerol; 18–39% and styrene butadiene styrene (SBS); 0–21%. The developed fibres had linear density in the range of 25 tex–44 tex with fibre diameter of about 247–301 µm. The extruded fibers were characterized for fiber strengt...

Research paper thumbnail of Strain effect on the electronic and photocatalytic properties of GaN-MSSe (M=Mo, W)

Journal of Solid State Chemistry

Research paper thumbnail of Effect of strain on structural and electronic properties, and thermoelectric response of MXY (M=Zr, Hf and Pt; X/Y=S, Se) vdW heterostructures; A first principles study

Journal of Solid State Chemistry

Research paper thumbnail of Evaluating Factors Affecting Communication in Wearable Internet of Things for Near Field

Internet of Things (IoT) has emerged as a new paradigm in the field of wireless communication. Se... more Internet of Things (IoT) has emerged as a new paradigm in the field of wireless communication. Several objects can communicate with each other through a broader network, the Internet. Paving its path from the devices on the desktop to laptop, computing is now transmuting from portable devices to wearables. Near Field Communication (NFC) is the latest trend in short range wireless technology that is widely used for digital payments. Inclusion of NFC in portal devices like smart phones and wearables like smart watches has significantly improved the way communication is done these days. Besides digital payments, NFC is also used for storing information like personal details, Wi-Fi passwords, GPS coordinates, device IDs and credit balance etc. NFC in wearables faces unique set of challenges such as design complications, communication issues and antenna fabrication intricacy. This paper discusses the factors involved in affecting the communication in wearable IoT passive tags for NFC. An...

Research paper thumbnail of Knowledge, attitude and practice for breast cancer risk factors and screening modalities in staff nurses of Ayub Teaching Hospital Abbottabad

BACKGROUND Breast cancer is the commonest cancer modality in female worldwide. Avoiding the risk ... more BACKGROUND Breast cancer is the commonest cancer modality in female worldwide. Avoiding the risk factors can reduce its incidence and adhering to screening and early detection can reduce its mortality. A sufficient knowledge regarding the risk factors and screening modalities is therefore essential. We assessed the knowledge level about these parameters in our staff nurses. METHODS A self-administered questionnaire survey was performed. Knowledge regarding the risk factors and screening modalities were categorised into good, fair, poor and very poor categories. RESULTS Knowledge regarding most of the factors was found to be fair. A few things were termed as good knowledge like role of breast-feeding in protecting against breast cancer. Practice regarding the screening modalities was not satisfactory. Only a few nurses had good knowledge of the risk factors and screening modalities. Practice of the Screening modalities was also poor. CONCLUSION There is a need to improve the nursing ...

Research paper thumbnail of An economical and environmentally benign approach to extract banana fibres from agricultural waste for fibre reinforced composites

The Journal of The Textile Institute, 2021

Research paper thumbnail of Classification of IoT Device Communication Through Machine Learning Techniques

Research paper thumbnail of Genetic Variability among Rapeseed (B. napus L.) Genotypes for Seed-Yield and Seed-Quality Traits

Sarhad Journal of Agriculture

Research paper thumbnail of Ecofriendly development of electrospun antibacterial membranes loaded with silver nanoparticles

Journal of Industrial Textiles

Functional polymeric membranes with antibacterial properties have gained significant importance i... more Functional polymeric membranes with antibacterial properties have gained significant importance in many applications. Silver NPs offer advantage over other materials for their effective antibacterial properties and being safer for humans at low concentrations. The synthesis of silver NPs may not always be environmental friendly and their incorporation in the polymer membranes is usually a multistep process. In this study, PVDF/PVP/AgNPs electrospun membranes were developed in a single step process where silver NPs were synthesized using reducing and stabilizing properties of PVP. The UV-vis spectroscopy confirmed the synthesis of silver NPs in PVP solution by sharp absorption peak at 398 nm. The membranes were loaded with various concentrations of silver NPs (1, 1.5, 2 and 2.5 wt%). The scanning electron microscopy of the developed membranes showed nano fibers of uniform diameter at optimized electrospinning conditions. FTIR spectroscopy also confirmed the successful development of ...

Research paper thumbnail of Fibers for Technical Textiles

Fibers for Technical Textiles

Technical Textile is a dynamic and fastest growing sector, which is primarily known for performan... more Technical Textile is a dynamic and fastest growing sector, which is primarily known for performance and functional properties. In this chapter, the definition of technical textile, Scope, market share, and categories of technical textiles have been explored. The current volume market worldwide for technical textile is 193.9 billion in US dollars, and it’s projected to reach $220.37 billion by 2022 at CAGR 5.89%. In terms of volume, this market is projected to reach 42.20millionmetric tons by the end of 2020. The Broad areas of technical textile and their application areas, including Protech, Sportstech, Aggrotech, Clothtech, Geotech, Hometech, Indutech, MedTech, Mobiltech, Oekotech, and Packtech, are also discussed. Moreover, in this chapter, conventional fibers and high-performance fibers used in technical textiles are systematically introduced. The main principle involved in the selection of raw materials and the importance of material selection are also explored. Along with it, the Global manufacturers of technical textile products and technical textile fibers and major countries producing these fibers have also been examined. At the end, major tests for technical textile fibers, yarns, and fabric and test standards according to ASTM, AATCC, and ISO have been evaluated.

Research paper thumbnail of Preparation and characterization of wool fiber reinforced nonwoven alginate hydrogel for wound dressing

Cellulose

Wound healing is a complex process which requires an appropriate environment for quick healing. R... more Wound healing is a complex process which requires an appropriate environment for quick healing. Recently, biodegradable hydrogel-based wound dressings have been seen to have high potential owing to their biodegradability and hydrated molecular structure. In this work, a novel biodegradable composite of sodium alginate hydrogel with wool needle-punched nonwoven fabric was produced for wound dressing by sol–gel technique. The wool nonwoven was dipped in the sodium alginate-water solution and then soaked in calcium chloride solution which resulted in hydrogel formation. FTIR analysis and SEM images confirm the presence of alginate hydrogel inside the needle-punched wool nonwoven fabric. The wound exudate absorbing capacity of hydrogel based wool nonwoven was increased 30 times as compared to pure wool nonwoven. Moreover, the tensile strength and moisture management properties of hydrogel based nonwoven were also enhanced. The unique combination of alginate hydrogel with biocompatible wool nonwoven fabric provides moist environment and can help in cell proliferation during wound healing process.

Research paper thumbnail of Electron acoustic solitary waves in unmagnetized nonthermal plasmas

Communications in Theoretical Physics

Electron acoustic (EA) solitary waves (SWs) are studied in an unmagnetized plasma consisting of h... more Electron acoustic (EA) solitary waves (SWs) are studied in an unmagnetized plasma consisting of hot electrons (following Cairns-Tsalli distribution), inertial cold electrons, and stationary ions. By employing a reductive perturbation technique (RPT), the nonlinear Korteweg–de Vries (KdV) equation is derived and its SW solution is analyzed. Here, the effects of plasma parameters such as the nonextensivity parameter (q), the nonthermality of electrons (α), and the cold-to-hot electron density ratio (β) are investigated.

Research paper thumbnail of Silencing of a putative alanine aminotransferase ( ALT ) gene influences free amino acid composition in hemolymph and fecundity of the predatory bug, Cyrtorhinus lividipennis Reuter

Archives of Insect Biochemistry and Physiology

In Asian rice systems, Cyrtorhinus lividipennis Reuter is an important predator that preys on ric... more In Asian rice systems, Cyrtorhinus lividipennis Reuter is an important predator that preys on rice planthopper eggs and young nymphs, as a primary food source. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) acts in many physiological and biochemical processes in insects. We cloned the full-length complementary DNA of C. lividipennis ClALT. Expression analysis showed higher expression in the fat body and midgut compared to other tissues. It is expressed in all C. lividipennis developmental stages and at least four organs. Silencing of ClALT by RNA interference significantly decreased the ClALT enzyme activity and ClALT expression compared to dsGFP-treated controls at 2 days after emergence (DAE). Silencing of ClALT influenced free hemolymph amino acid compositions, resulting in a reduction of Aspartic acid (Asp) and Alanine (Ala) proportions, and increased Cysteine (Cys) and Valine (Val) proportions in females at 2 DAE. dsClALT treatments led to decreased soluble total protein concentrations in ovary and fat body, and to lower reduced vitellogenin (Vg) expression, body weight, and the numbers of laid eggs. The double-stranded RNA viruse treatments also led to prolonged preoviposition periods and hindered ovarian development. Western blot analysis indicated that silencing ClALT also led to reduced fat body Vg protein abundance at 2 DAE. These data support our hypothesis that ClALT influences amino acid metabolism and fecundity in C. lividipennis.

Research paper thumbnail of Octopamine signaling is involved in the female postmating state in Nilaparvata lugens Stål (Hemiptera: Delphacidae)

Archives of Insect Biochemistry and Physiology

Mating triggers physiological and behavioral changes in female insects. In many species, females ... more Mating triggers physiological and behavioral changes in female insects. In many species, females experience postmating behavioral and physiological changes that define a post-mated state. These changes are comprised of several conditions, including long-term refractoriness to re-mating and increased production and laying of eggs. Here, we report that mating led to several changes in brown planthopper (BPH) females, including increased octopamine (OA), cAMP concentrations, and activities of several enzymes. Mating also led to changes in the expression of several genes acting in female physiology, including those in the cAMP/PKA signal transduction pathway. OA injections into virgin females led to similar changes. RNAi silencing of the gene encoding tyramine β-hydroxylase, involved in the final step in OA synthesis, led to decreased expression of these genes, and reduced the cAMP/PKA signaling. At the whole-organism level, the RNAi treatments led to reduced fecundity, body weights, and longevity. RNAi silencing of genes acting in OA signaling led to truncated ovarian development, egg maturation, and ovarian vitellogenin (Vg) uptake. The impact of these decreases is also registered at the population level, seen as decreased population growth. We infer that OA signaling modulates the postmating state in female BPH and possibly other hemipterans.

Research paper thumbnail of Oblique propagation of nonlinear ion-acoustic cnoidal waves in magnetized electron–positron–ion plasmas with nonextensive electrons

Plasma Science and Technology

Theoretical investigation of nonlinear electrostatic ion-acoustic cnoidal waves (IACWs) is presen... more Theoretical investigation of nonlinear electrostatic ion-acoustic cnoidal waves (IACWs) is presented in magnetized electron–positron–ion plasma with nonextensive electrons and Maxwellian positrons. Using reductive perturbation technique, Korteweg–de Vries equation is derived and its cnoidal wave solution is analyzed. For given plasma parameters, our model supports only positive potential (compressive) IACW structures. The effect of relevant plasma parameters (viz., nonextensive parameter q, positron concentration p, temperature ratio σ, obliqueness l 3) on the characteristics of IACWs is discussed in detail.

Research paper thumbnail of An experimental study on dyeing of needle‐punched polyethylene‐terephthalate non‐wovens

Research paper thumbnail of Ultrasound‐assisted extraction of guava and papaya leaves for the development of functional shrimp patties

Food Science & Nutrition

Abstract The current study was aimed to evaluate the effects of guava and papaya leaves extract o... more Abstract The current study was aimed to evaluate the effects of guava and papaya leaves extract on the antioxidant profile and their outcomes in the storage stability of shrimp patties. Total of seven treatments were prepared by employing guava leaf extract (GLE) and papaya leaf extract (PLE) including control. Both the extracts were employed in the concentration of 1% and 2% each and in combination as 1:1% and 2:2%, respectively. The shrimp patties were kept in ziplock bags at refrigeration temperature, and further analysis was done after 21 days of storage period with intermittent evaluation interval of 7 days. The antioxidant capability of functional shrimp patties was determined by total phenolic content (TPC), 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP). Higher significant values of TPC, DPPH, and FRAP were observed in the functional shrimp patties enriched with GLE2%:PLE2% at start of the experiment. The physicochemical parameters were observed by hunter color, TVBN, TBARS, and peroxide value (POV). Higher significant values of TVBN, TBARS, and peroxide were observed in the control samples as compared to treatment group GLE2%:PLE2%. The bacterial counts were also higher in control samples as compared to the treatment group GLE2%:PLE2%. The sensorial attributes were observed regarding appearance, taste, texture, odor, and overall acceptability. The maximum scores related all parameters were gathered by control group but significantly lower scores were for the group GLE2%:PLE2%. In conclusion, functional shrimp patties enriched with GLE2%:PLE2% showed better antioxidant capacity, stability, and sensory characteristics during storage.

Research paper thumbnail of Therapeutic Effect of Sunflower Seeds and Flax Seeds on Diabetes

Cureus

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic syndrome that is spreading like an epidemic throughout the ... more Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic syndrome that is spreading like an epidemic throughout the world without any differentiation of races and ethnic groups and has become the cause of death worldwide. It is characterized by high levels of glucose in the blood and has different types classified on the basis of varying pathophysiology. Type 1 diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes is characterized by insulin insufficiency due to autoimmune dysfunction. Type 2 diabetes or non-insulin-dependent diabetes results from the combination of resistance to insulin action or/and inadequate insulin secretion. Gestational diabetes (GDM) is defined as hyperglycemia due to insulin resistance during pregnancy. Other types include the monogenic type of DM such as neonatal diabetes mellitus (NDM), maturity-onset diabetes of young (MODY), and diabetes in metabolic syndrome. Diabetes is diagnosed by criteria given by American Diabetes Association (ADA) for different tests like fasting plasma glucose test and hemoglobin A1c test. It is characterized by polydipsia, polyphagia, hyperglycemia, and glucosuria. Diabetes mellitus is managed through medications but many studies have proven that consumption of particular foods leads to decreased glucose levels in diabetic patients. Seeds like sunflower and flax seeds have a role in the reduction of glucose levels and can be used to treat type 2 diabetes. The bioactive components in these seeds like chlorogenic acid in sunflower seeds and secoisolariciresinol diglucosoid are involved in the treatment of insulin resistance or insulin production. In different studies, different amounts of these seed extracts were consumed by rats and humans and it resulted in better glycemic control, which provides information that these seeds have anti-diabetic properties.

Research paper thumbnail of Development of optimized triaxially electrospun titania nanofiber‐in‐nanotube core‐shell structure

Journal of Applied Polymer Science

Research paper thumbnail of First cancer statistics report from Hazara division

Journal of Ayub Medical College, Abbottabad : JAMC, 2013

BACKGROUND 'Cancer' is on rise globally. Cancer registry is vital for policy making, reso... more BACKGROUND 'Cancer' is on rise globally. Cancer registry is vital for policy making, resource allocation, progress tracking and overall cancer control. In Pakistan, cancer prevention, screening and standardised clinical trials, as well as quality assurance through surveillance are badly hampered due to the lack of a National Cancer Registry. For Pakistan a well-integrated system of Cancer Registry is need of the day. METHODS This retrospective study was conducted on the hospital records at the Oncology Department of Ayub Teaching Hospital, Abbottabad from year 2007-12. Data were collected tIhrough a standard data capture form with a final figure of 555 patients. The malignancies were diagnosed clinically and histopathologically at different laboratories of Pakistan. RESULTS Among these cases, 54.08% were male and 45.92% female. Incidence of cancer in patients below 14 years age was 8.47% and 91.53% above 14 years. Majority (31.95%) cases were from Mansehra followed by Abbott...

Research paper thumbnail of Development and characterization of biodegradable starch-based fibre by wet extrusion

Cellulose, 2021

The man-made fibres have the versatility of required engineered properties. The biodegradability ... more The man-made fibres have the versatility of required engineered properties. The biodegradability is the need of the day. This study aimed at development of biodegradable starch based fibers using wet extrusion technique. The non-modified natural starch is cost efficient and wet extrusion technique will support bulk production of fibre without any change in chemical structure of material. Multiple additives such as plasticizers and binders were added to the dope solution in different concentrations to study their effect on physical properties, mechanical performance and serviceability of the wet-spun starch fibers. The ranges of additive concentrations in (% wt/v) used to make the dope solutions are as follows: starch; 38–64%, Polyvinyl Alchohol (PVA); 7–23%, glycerol; 18–39% and styrene butadiene styrene (SBS); 0–21%. The developed fibres had linear density in the range of 25 tex–44 tex with fibre diameter of about 247–301 µm. The extruded fibers were characterized for fiber strengt...

Research paper thumbnail of Strain effect on the electronic and photocatalytic properties of GaN-MSSe (M=Mo, W)

Journal of Solid State Chemistry

Research paper thumbnail of Effect of strain on structural and electronic properties, and thermoelectric response of MXY (M=Zr, Hf and Pt; X/Y=S, Se) vdW heterostructures; A first principles study

Journal of Solid State Chemistry

Research paper thumbnail of Evaluating Factors Affecting Communication in Wearable Internet of Things for Near Field

Internet of Things (IoT) has emerged as a new paradigm in the field of wireless communication. Se... more Internet of Things (IoT) has emerged as a new paradigm in the field of wireless communication. Several objects can communicate with each other through a broader network, the Internet. Paving its path from the devices on the desktop to laptop, computing is now transmuting from portable devices to wearables. Near Field Communication (NFC) is the latest trend in short range wireless technology that is widely used for digital payments. Inclusion of NFC in portal devices like smart phones and wearables like smart watches has significantly improved the way communication is done these days. Besides digital payments, NFC is also used for storing information like personal details, Wi-Fi passwords, GPS coordinates, device IDs and credit balance etc. NFC in wearables faces unique set of challenges such as design complications, communication issues and antenna fabrication intricacy. This paper discusses the factors involved in affecting the communication in wearable IoT passive tags for NFC. An...

Research paper thumbnail of Knowledge, attitude and practice for breast cancer risk factors and screening modalities in staff nurses of Ayub Teaching Hospital Abbottabad

BACKGROUND Breast cancer is the commonest cancer modality in female worldwide. Avoiding the risk ... more BACKGROUND Breast cancer is the commonest cancer modality in female worldwide. Avoiding the risk factors can reduce its incidence and adhering to screening and early detection can reduce its mortality. A sufficient knowledge regarding the risk factors and screening modalities is therefore essential. We assessed the knowledge level about these parameters in our staff nurses. METHODS A self-administered questionnaire survey was performed. Knowledge regarding the risk factors and screening modalities were categorised into good, fair, poor and very poor categories. RESULTS Knowledge regarding most of the factors was found to be fair. A few things were termed as good knowledge like role of breast-feeding in protecting against breast cancer. Practice regarding the screening modalities was not satisfactory. Only a few nurses had good knowledge of the risk factors and screening modalities. Practice of the Screening modalities was also poor. CONCLUSION There is a need to improve the nursing ...

Research paper thumbnail of An economical and environmentally benign approach to extract banana fibres from agricultural waste for fibre reinforced composites

The Journal of The Textile Institute, 2021

Research paper thumbnail of Classification of IoT Device Communication Through Machine Learning Techniques

Research paper thumbnail of Genetic Variability among Rapeseed (B. napus L.) Genotypes for Seed-Yield and Seed-Quality Traits

Sarhad Journal of Agriculture

Research paper thumbnail of Ecofriendly development of electrospun antibacterial membranes loaded with silver nanoparticles

Journal of Industrial Textiles

Functional polymeric membranes with antibacterial properties have gained significant importance i... more Functional polymeric membranes with antibacterial properties have gained significant importance in many applications. Silver NPs offer advantage over other materials for their effective antibacterial properties and being safer for humans at low concentrations. The synthesis of silver NPs may not always be environmental friendly and their incorporation in the polymer membranes is usually a multistep process. In this study, PVDF/PVP/AgNPs electrospun membranes were developed in a single step process where silver NPs were synthesized using reducing and stabilizing properties of PVP. The UV-vis spectroscopy confirmed the synthesis of silver NPs in PVP solution by sharp absorption peak at 398 nm. The membranes were loaded with various concentrations of silver NPs (1, 1.5, 2 and 2.5 wt%). The scanning electron microscopy of the developed membranes showed nano fibers of uniform diameter at optimized electrospinning conditions. FTIR spectroscopy also confirmed the successful development of ...

Research paper thumbnail of Fibers for Technical Textiles

Fibers for Technical Textiles

Technical Textile is a dynamic and fastest growing sector, which is primarily known for performan... more Technical Textile is a dynamic and fastest growing sector, which is primarily known for performance and functional properties. In this chapter, the definition of technical textile, Scope, market share, and categories of technical textiles have been explored. The current volume market worldwide for technical textile is 193.9 billion in US dollars, and it’s projected to reach $220.37 billion by 2022 at CAGR 5.89%. In terms of volume, this market is projected to reach 42.20millionmetric tons by the end of 2020. The Broad areas of technical textile and their application areas, including Protech, Sportstech, Aggrotech, Clothtech, Geotech, Hometech, Indutech, MedTech, Mobiltech, Oekotech, and Packtech, are also discussed. Moreover, in this chapter, conventional fibers and high-performance fibers used in technical textiles are systematically introduced. The main principle involved in the selection of raw materials and the importance of material selection are also explored. Along with it, the Global manufacturers of technical textile products and technical textile fibers and major countries producing these fibers have also been examined. At the end, major tests for technical textile fibers, yarns, and fabric and test standards according to ASTM, AATCC, and ISO have been evaluated.

Research paper thumbnail of Preparation and characterization of wool fiber reinforced nonwoven alginate hydrogel for wound dressing

Cellulose

Wound healing is a complex process which requires an appropriate environment for quick healing. R... more Wound healing is a complex process which requires an appropriate environment for quick healing. Recently, biodegradable hydrogel-based wound dressings have been seen to have high potential owing to their biodegradability and hydrated molecular structure. In this work, a novel biodegradable composite of sodium alginate hydrogel with wool needle-punched nonwoven fabric was produced for wound dressing by sol–gel technique. The wool nonwoven was dipped in the sodium alginate-water solution and then soaked in calcium chloride solution which resulted in hydrogel formation. FTIR analysis and SEM images confirm the presence of alginate hydrogel inside the needle-punched wool nonwoven fabric. The wound exudate absorbing capacity of hydrogel based wool nonwoven was increased 30 times as compared to pure wool nonwoven. Moreover, the tensile strength and moisture management properties of hydrogel based nonwoven were also enhanced. The unique combination of alginate hydrogel with biocompatible wool nonwoven fabric provides moist environment and can help in cell proliferation during wound healing process.

Research paper thumbnail of Electron acoustic solitary waves in unmagnetized nonthermal plasmas

Communications in Theoretical Physics

Electron acoustic (EA) solitary waves (SWs) are studied in an unmagnetized plasma consisting of h... more Electron acoustic (EA) solitary waves (SWs) are studied in an unmagnetized plasma consisting of hot electrons (following Cairns-Tsalli distribution), inertial cold electrons, and stationary ions. By employing a reductive perturbation technique (RPT), the nonlinear Korteweg–de Vries (KdV) equation is derived and its SW solution is analyzed. Here, the effects of plasma parameters such as the nonextensivity parameter (q), the nonthermality of electrons (α), and the cold-to-hot electron density ratio (β) are investigated.

Research paper thumbnail of Silencing of a putative alanine aminotransferase ( ALT ) gene influences free amino acid composition in hemolymph and fecundity of the predatory bug, Cyrtorhinus lividipennis Reuter

Archives of Insect Biochemistry and Physiology

In Asian rice systems, Cyrtorhinus lividipennis Reuter is an important predator that preys on ric... more In Asian rice systems, Cyrtorhinus lividipennis Reuter is an important predator that preys on rice planthopper eggs and young nymphs, as a primary food source. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) acts in many physiological and biochemical processes in insects. We cloned the full-length complementary DNA of C. lividipennis ClALT. Expression analysis showed higher expression in the fat body and midgut compared to other tissues. It is expressed in all C. lividipennis developmental stages and at least four organs. Silencing of ClALT by RNA interference significantly decreased the ClALT enzyme activity and ClALT expression compared to dsGFP-treated controls at 2 days after emergence (DAE). Silencing of ClALT influenced free hemolymph amino acid compositions, resulting in a reduction of Aspartic acid (Asp) and Alanine (Ala) proportions, and increased Cysteine (Cys) and Valine (Val) proportions in females at 2 DAE. dsClALT treatments led to decreased soluble total protein concentrations in ovary and fat body, and to lower reduced vitellogenin (Vg) expression, body weight, and the numbers of laid eggs. The double-stranded RNA viruse treatments also led to prolonged preoviposition periods and hindered ovarian development. Western blot analysis indicated that silencing ClALT also led to reduced fat body Vg protein abundance at 2 DAE. These data support our hypothesis that ClALT influences amino acid metabolism and fecundity in C. lividipennis.

Research paper thumbnail of Octopamine signaling is involved in the female postmating state in Nilaparvata lugens Stål (Hemiptera: Delphacidae)

Archives of Insect Biochemistry and Physiology

Mating triggers physiological and behavioral changes in female insects. In many species, females ... more Mating triggers physiological and behavioral changes in female insects. In many species, females experience postmating behavioral and physiological changes that define a post-mated state. These changes are comprised of several conditions, including long-term refractoriness to re-mating and increased production and laying of eggs. Here, we report that mating led to several changes in brown planthopper (BPH) females, including increased octopamine (OA), cAMP concentrations, and activities of several enzymes. Mating also led to changes in the expression of several genes acting in female physiology, including those in the cAMP/PKA signal transduction pathway. OA injections into virgin females led to similar changes. RNAi silencing of the gene encoding tyramine β-hydroxylase, involved in the final step in OA synthesis, led to decreased expression of these genes, and reduced the cAMP/PKA signaling. At the whole-organism level, the RNAi treatments led to reduced fecundity, body weights, and longevity. RNAi silencing of genes acting in OA signaling led to truncated ovarian development, egg maturation, and ovarian vitellogenin (Vg) uptake. The impact of these decreases is also registered at the population level, seen as decreased population growth. We infer that OA signaling modulates the postmating state in female BPH and possibly other hemipterans.

Research paper thumbnail of Oblique propagation of nonlinear ion-acoustic cnoidal waves in magnetized electron–positron–ion plasmas with nonextensive electrons

Plasma Science and Technology

Theoretical investigation of nonlinear electrostatic ion-acoustic cnoidal waves (IACWs) is presen... more Theoretical investigation of nonlinear electrostatic ion-acoustic cnoidal waves (IACWs) is presented in magnetized electron–positron–ion plasma with nonextensive electrons and Maxwellian positrons. Using reductive perturbation technique, Korteweg–de Vries equation is derived and its cnoidal wave solution is analyzed. For given plasma parameters, our model supports only positive potential (compressive) IACW structures. The effect of relevant plasma parameters (viz., nonextensive parameter q, positron concentration p, temperature ratio σ, obliqueness l 3) on the characteristics of IACWs is discussed in detail.

Research paper thumbnail of An experimental study on dyeing of needle‐punched polyethylene‐terephthalate non‐wovens

Research paper thumbnail of Ultrasound‐assisted extraction of guava and papaya leaves for the development of functional shrimp patties

Food Science & Nutrition

Abstract The current study was aimed to evaluate the effects of guava and papaya leaves extract o... more Abstract The current study was aimed to evaluate the effects of guava and papaya leaves extract on the antioxidant profile and their outcomes in the storage stability of shrimp patties. Total of seven treatments were prepared by employing guava leaf extract (GLE) and papaya leaf extract (PLE) including control. Both the extracts were employed in the concentration of 1% and 2% each and in combination as 1:1% and 2:2%, respectively. The shrimp patties were kept in ziplock bags at refrigeration temperature, and further analysis was done after 21 days of storage period with intermittent evaluation interval of 7 days. The antioxidant capability of functional shrimp patties was determined by total phenolic content (TPC), 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP). Higher significant values of TPC, DPPH, and FRAP were observed in the functional shrimp patties enriched with GLE2%:PLE2% at start of the experiment. The physicochemical parameters were observed by hunter color, TVBN, TBARS, and peroxide value (POV). Higher significant values of TVBN, TBARS, and peroxide were observed in the control samples as compared to treatment group GLE2%:PLE2%. The bacterial counts were also higher in control samples as compared to the treatment group GLE2%:PLE2%. The sensorial attributes were observed regarding appearance, taste, texture, odor, and overall acceptability. The maximum scores related all parameters were gathered by control group but significantly lower scores were for the group GLE2%:PLE2%. In conclusion, functional shrimp patties enriched with GLE2%:PLE2% showed better antioxidant capacity, stability, and sensory characteristics during storage.