One of the most important applications of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) is as reinforcement of metal matrix composites, because of their excellent mechanical properties. In this study, Al-TiO2-multi walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) nanocomposite is fabricated using isostatic pressing followed by hot extrusion. Mechanical alloying is used to mix powders of aluminium, TiO2 and MWCNTs. TiO2 with the amo...

BACKGROUND Aluminium is considered a bone toxic metal since poisoning can lead to aluminium-induced bone disease in patients with chronic renal failure. Healthy subjects with normal renal function retain 4% of the aluminium consumed. They might thus also accumulate aluminium and eventually be at risk of long-term low-grade aluminium intoxication that can affect bone health. METHODS We therefo...

The investigation of the toxic effects and the uptake of aluminium by Escherichia coli in growth medium (GM) and in physiological solution (PS) have been studied. The toxicity was quantitatively determined according to the decrease of the colony forming units (CFU) in the physiological solution, that is its growth inhibition in the growth medium, vs. the aluminium concentration and incubation t...

The genetic predispositions which describe a diagnosis of familial Alzheimer's disease can be considered as cornerstones of the amyloid cascade hypothesis. Essentially they place the expression and metabolism of the amyloid precursor protein as the main tenet of disease aetiology. However, we do not know the cause of Alzheimer's disease and environmental factors may yet be shown to contribute t...

BACKGROUND Recent research published in this journal highlighted the issue of the high content of aluminium in infant formulas. The expectation was that the findings would serve as a catalyst for manufacturers to address a significant problem of these, often necessary, components of infant nutrition. It is critically important that parents and other users have confidence in the safety of infant...

The usage of powder metallurgy aluminium compacts in lieu of ferrous components in automotives helps to lower vehicle weight. The major drawback in the commercially available press sintered aluminium alloy is porosity which is mainly dependent on the powder metallurgical process parameters such as compaction pressure, sintering temperature and cooling rate after sintering. In this paper the eff...

BACKGROUND Infant formulas are sophisticated milk-based feeds for infants which are used as a substitute for breast milk. Historically they are known to be contaminated by aluminium and in the past this has raised health concerns for exposed infants. We have measured the aluminium content of a number of widely used infant formulas to determine if their contamination by aluminium and consequent ...

An acute toxicity study of aluminium at low pH, using one-year-old rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri R.), was performed in a closed recirculating system at pH 5.2, 5.4, and 5.6 with nominal concentrations of 0, 100, 200, and 400/tg A1/I. Mortality (96 h) was dependent on the pH and aluminium concentration. Measurements of aluminium in the plasma of exposed fish, by electrothermal atomic absorption...

Although there are great changes of dietary in the past few decades in China, few are known about the aluminium exposure in Chinese diet. The aim of this study is to systematically evaluate the dietary aluminium intake level in residents of Shenzhen, China. A total of 853 persons from 244 household were investigated their diet by three days food records. Finally, 149 kinds of foods in 17 food g...

Aluminium is widely used in medicines, as food additives, as water purification agent, as in the making of household cookware and storage utensils. Aluminium can get into the human beings via digestive tract or via lungs or through parenteral route. Absorption of aluminium depends upon the chemical forms of aluminium taken up and pH values in GIT. In acidic medium, absorption becomes higher. Al...