Textile Environmental Conditioning: Effect of Relative Humidity Variation on the Tensile Properties of Different Fabrics

With the aim that to confirm the need for humidity control in the environment in which textile sample are visually and instrumentally analyzed, three different pre-conditioned fabrics sample of cotton, polyester and silk were treated at a fix temperature of 21?C. The relative humidity adjusted to four levels: 55%, 65%, 75% and 85% RH for a conditioning time of 24 hours as specified in ASTM D-1776-98. It has been observed that as the relative humidity increase from 55% to 85% cotton increase its tensile strength, silk losses its strength and there was no significant change observed in the tensile strength of polyester fabric.

Comparison between Pigment Printing Systems with Acrylate and Butadiene Based Binders

Pigment printing was carried out on lab scale by simple screen-printing techniques. By the application of acrylate and butadiene based binder, the crocking fastness, formaldehyde release and PVC migration of fabric printed with Imparon red KB pigment was evaluated. The effect of curing time on K/S values was also investigated. It has been found that butadiene based binder shows good performance in terms of crocking fastness, formaldehyde release and PVC migra-tion. It has also been observed that by increasing the binder concentration, the release of formaldehyde decreased and by increasing the curing time, the K/S values of printed fabric were decreased.

High HbA1c is associated with higher risk of ischaemic stroke in Pakistani population without diabetes

Context:The role of glycated haemoglobin(HbA1c)in the prediction of ischaemic stroke in individuals without diabetes is underestimated.Aims:We performed a study to analyse the role of HbA1c in the risk prediction of ischaemic stroke in Pakistani population without diabetes.We further studied the difference between HbA1c values of individuals with diabetes and without diabetes with stroke.Settings and design:Single centre,case–control.Materials and methods:In phase I,a total of 233 patients without diabetes with ischaemic stroke and 245 as controls were enrolled.Association of HbA1c levels,lipid profiles and blood pressure recordings with ischaemic stroke was analysed.In phase II,comparison was done between diabetics and nondiabetics with stroke.Statistical analysis:Comparison of the mean variables was performed with Student’s t-tests.Logistic regression analysis with ischaemic stroke as the dependent variable was performed for phase I.Results:In phase I,the ischaemic stroke group had significantly higher HbA1c levels(5.9±2.9%vs 5.5±1.6%)compared with controls(p<0.05).Triglyceride cholesterol,high-density lipoprotein cholesterol,systolic blood pressure,diastolic blood pressure and HbA1c were the significant determinants of stroke(p<0.05).In phase II,mean HbA1c values were significantly higher in the diabetes group(7.6±2.1 vs 6.1±2.3)(p<0.05)but other parameters were not statistically significantly different(p>0.05).Conclusions:Higher HbA1c indicated a significantly increased risk for ischaemic stroke.An HbA1c value above 5.6%(prediabetic range)predicted future risk of stroke and efforts to maintain glucose level within the normal range(≤5.6%)in individuals with high cardiovascular risk are important.