Investigations on the Problem of Moisture Absorption13; by Kevlar Fibres

Kevlar fibres are know, to have affinity for moisture. We have investigated (i) the effect of relative humidity (RH) of ambient atmosphere and ( ii ) the effect of crystallinity of fibres on the process of moisture uptake.13; For RH values ranging fran 3 to 80% variation of moisture content of initially dry fibres with time has been measured. It is found that saturation moisture content varies with RH value. Specimens in which crystallinity has been reduced by apropriate treatmrent exhibit a marked increase in moisture content.Experiments on the effect of soaking the fibres in water at 26xB0;C and 98xB0;C have also been carried out. The site of ITOisture absorption has been studied using X-ray of dry Kevlar 49 fibres and those with clifferent levels13; of misture content. The results suggest that water molecules do not enter the unit cell

Rehabilitation for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients exercise training component

Even though Barach in 1964 advocated physical exercise for patients with chronic lung diseases (1), it was only in early 1970s that a liberal use of exercise training was included in pulmonary rehabilitation programmes (2). The relentless downhill course of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) over many years and the concomitant worsening of dyspnoea limit the activity of patients, leading to a vicious cycle of increasing inactivity and dyspnoea. This in turn aggravates the debilitating effects of the disease. Exercise training has been advocated as an important component in pulmonary rehabilitation to improve well-being and to reduce subsequent hospital admissions in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease