TiO2/PDMS nanocomposites for use on self-cleaning surfaces

AbstractIn this study, polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)/TiO2 nanocomposite was processed by the spray method. TiO2 nanoparticles were synthesized by microwave-assisted hydrothermal method. Varying the proportion of nanoparticles in 0%, 0.5% and 1% by weight, commercial TiO2 (P25) was used for comparison purposes. The photocatalytic activity of nanocomposites impregnated with methylene blue was assessed by means of UV–visible spectroscopy. Changes in contact angle were analyzed before and after UV degradation tests. The effect of ultraviolet radiation on the chemical structure of the PDMS matrix was evaluated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The results indicated that the addition of TiO2 nanoparticles in PDMS provides good photocatalytic properties in the decomposition of methylene blue, which is an important characteristic for the development of coatings for self-cleaning. For comparison purposes, commercial P25 was also used to investigate the photocatalytic activity

GNO Solar Neutrino Observations: Results for GNOI

We report the first GNO solar neutrino results for the measuring period GNOI, solar exposure time May 20, 1998 till January 12, 2000. In the present analysis, counting results for solar runs SR1 - SR19 were used till April 4, 2000. With counting completed for all but the last 3 runs (SR17 - SR19), the GNO I result is [65.8 +10.2 -9.6 (stat.) +3.4 -3.6 (syst.)]SNU (1sigma) or [65.8 + 10.7 -10.2 (incl. syst.)]SNU (1sigma) with errors combined. This may be compared to the result for Gallex(I-IV), which is [77.5 +7.6 -7.8 (incl. syst.)] SNU (1sigma). A combined result from both GNOI and Gallex(I-IV) together is [74.1 + 6.7 -6.8 (incl. syst.)] SNU (1sigma).Comment: submitted to Physics Letters B, June 2000. PACS: 26.65. +t ; 14.60 Pq. Corresponding author: [email protected] ; [email protected]

Biosensor capability of the endometrium is mediated in part, by altered miRNA cargo from conceptus‐derived extracellular vesicles

We tested the hypothesis that the biosensor capability of the endometrium is mediated in part, by the effect of different cargo contained in the extracellular vesicles secreted by the conceptus during the peri-implantation period of pregnancy. We transferred Bos taurus taurus embryos of different origin, in vivo (high developmental potential (IV)), in vitro (intermediate developmental potential (IVF)), or cloned (low developmental potential (NT)), into Bos taurus indicus recipients. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) recovered from Day 16 conceptus-conditioned medium were characterized and their microRNA (miRNA) cargo sequenced alongside RNA sequencing of their respective endometria. There were substantial differences in the endometrial response to in vivo versus in vitro and in vivo versus cloned conceptuses (1153 and 334DEGs respectively) with limited differences between in vitro Vs cloned conceptuses (36 DEGs). The miRNA cargo contained in conceptus-derived EVs was similar between all three groups (426 miRNA in common). Only 8 miRNAs were different between in vivo and cloned conceptuses, while only 6 miRNAs were different between in vivo and in vitro-derived conceptuses. Treatment of endometrial epithelial cells with mimic or inhibitors for miR-128 and miR-1298 changed the proteomic content of target cells (96 and 85, respectively) of which mRNAs are altered in the endometrium in vivo (PLXDC2, COPG1, HSPA12A, MCM5, TBL1XR1, and TTF). In conclusion, we have determined that the biosensor capability of the endometrium is mediated in part, by its response to different EVs miRNA cargo produced by the conceptus during the peri-implantation period of pregnancy

Repositioning of the global epicentre of non-optimal cholesterol

High blood cholesterol is typically considered a feature of wealthy western countries1,2. However, dietary and behavioural determinants of blood cholesterol are changing rapidly throughout the world3 and countries are using lipid-lowering medications at varying rates. These changes can have distinct effects on the levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and non-HDL cholesterol, which have different effects on human health4,5. However, the trends of HDL and non-HDL cholesterol levels over time have not been previously reported in a global analysis. Here we pooled 1,127 population-based studies that measured blood lipids in 102.6 million individuals aged 18 years and older to estimate trends from 1980 to 2018 in mean total, non-HDL and HDL cholesterol levels for 200 countries. Globally, there was little change in total or non-HDL cholesterol from 1980 to 2018. This was a net effect of increases in low- and middle-income countries, especially in east and southeast Asia, and decreases in high-income western countries, especially those in northwestern Europe, and in central and eastern Europe. As a result, countries with the highest level of non-HDL cholesterol—which is a marker of cardiovascular risk—changed from those in western Europe such as Belgium, Finland, Greenland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and Malta in 1980 to those in Asia and the Pacific, such as Tokelau, Malaysia, The Philippines and Thailand. In 2017, high non-HDL cholesterol was responsible for an estimated 3.9 million (95% credible interval 3.7 million–4.2 million) worldwide deaths, half of which occurred in east, southeast and south Asia. The global repositioning of lipid-related risk, with non-optimal cholesterol shifting from a distinct feature of high-income countries in northwestern Europe, north America and Australasia to one that affects countries in east and southeast Asia and Oceania should motivate the use of population-based policies and personal interventions to improve nutrition and enhance access to treatment throughout the world.</p

Repositioning of the global epicentre of non-optimal cholesterol

High blood cholesterol is typically considered a feature of wealthy western countries1,2. However, dietary and behavioural determinants of blood cholesterol are changing rapidly throughout the world3 and countries are using lipid-lowering medications at varying rates. These changes can have distinct effects on the levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and non-HDL cholesterol, which have different effects on human health4,5. However, the trends of HDL and non-HDL cholesterol levels over time have not been previously reported in a global analysis. Here we pooled 1,127 population-based studies that measured blood lipids in 102.6 million individuals aged 18 years and older to estimate trends from 1980 to 2018 in mean total, non-HDL and HDL cholesterol levels for 200 countries. Globally, there was little change in total or non-HDL cholesterol from 1980 to 2018. This was a net effect of increases in low- and middle-income countries, especially in east and southeast Asia, and decreases in high-income western countries, especially those in northwestern Europe, and in central and eastern Europe. As a result, countries with the highest level of non-HDL cholesterol�which is a marker of cardiovascular risk�changed from those in western Europe such as Belgium, Finland, Greenland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and Malta in 1980 to those in Asia and the Pacific, such as Tokelau, Malaysia, The Philippines and Thailand. In 2017, high non-HDL cholesterol was responsible for an estimated 3.9 million (95 credible interval 3.7 million�4.2 million) worldwide deaths, half of which occurred in east, southeast and south Asia. The global repositioning of lipid-related risk, with non-optimal cholesterol shifting from a distinct feature of high-income countries in northwestern Europe, north America and Australasia to one that affects countries in east and southeast Asia and Oceania should motivate the use of population-based policies and personal interventions to improve nutrition and enhance access to treatment throughout the world. © 2020, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited

Fast microwave synthesis and white luminescent emission from Pb1–2xCaxSrxMoO4 (x=0; 0.3; and 0.5) particles

Scheelite with ABO4 structure has been increasingly highlighted in the optoelectronic field. In this study, PbMoO4, Pb0.4Ca0.3Sr0.3MoO4, and Ca0.5Sr0.5MoO4 particles were fast synthesized via microwave-assisted hydrothermal method for 1, 2, 4, and 8 min. The particles were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Rietveld refinement, ultraviolet-visible (UV–vis) absorption spectroscopy, photoluminescence (PL), and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). The diffractogram showed a scheelite-type tetragonal structure and a unit cell with space group I41/a, as well as the presence of defects with an increase in the synthesis time in PbMoO4 and Pb0.4Ca0.3Sr0.3MoO4 samples. Rietveld refinement data possibilities the evaluation of distortions in the tetrahedral [MoO4] clusters and FE-SEM images showed octahedral, spherical particles, and flower-like morphology due to the additions of calcium and strontium in the structure. The bandgap of the materials varied between 3.32 and 4.18 eV, which was affected by the increase in the presence of dopants in the materials. The photoluminescence presented by the PL emission spectral showed a typical emission peak in green with the PL signal intensity decreasing with the synthesis time increase for the PCSMO samples, and the longer the synthesis time, the higher the PL signal for CSMO samples. CCT coordinates have been calculated for all samples and its value exhibited that, overall emission is near white light. This parameter infers that Pb0.4Ca0.3Sr0.3MoO4 sample, synthesized in 1 min, may have potential application in commercial LEDs, due to near white emission and fast microwave synthesis

Investigating adsorption/photocatalysis of organic contaminants by Fe3O4–GO, Fe3O4–C3N4, and Fe3O4–GO-C3N4 heterojunctions

Water pollution by contaminants such as dyes and drugs is a serious environmental problem. Currently, the objective is to develop materials that are effective in removing these contaminants. Graphene oxide (GO) and graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) have been used as adsorbents for the efficient removal of organic pollutants and are useful to improve the photoactivity of iron oxide (Fe3O4). In this work, the Fe3O4, Fe3O4–C3N4, Fe3O4–GO, and Fe3O4–GO–C3N4 powders were structurally characterized by the X-ray diffraction technique and morphologically by the field emission scanning electron microscopy technique. Optical properties were studied using UV–visible spectroscopy and VSM analysis was performed to determine the remanence magnetization. The adsorption and photocatalysis were tested against methylene blue (MB), methyl orange (MO) and ketoprofen. XRD patterns for Fe3O4 and heterojunctions showed Fe3O4 formed as a single phase. As for morphological observation, Fe3O4 and g-C3N4 are formed by nanoparticles without defined morphology, while GO is formed by sheets. As for the VSM analysis, all samples show ferromagnetic behavior. The Fe3O4, Fe3O4–C3N4, Fe3O4–GO, and Fe3O4–GO–C3N4 samples have a bandgap of 2.07, 2.21, 2.14, and 2.19 ​eV, respectively. Therefore, all samples absorb visible radiation in waves greater than 560 ​nm. Heterojunctions containing g-C3N4 completely adsorb the MB and MO dyes, being necessary to extend the activity time when concentration increases or when the dyes are put together. Both Fe3O4 and Fe3O4–GO have photocatalytic properties toward MO dye. All materials studied in this manuscript have good adsorption and photocatalytic capacity against the anti-inflammatory drug ketoprofen

Optimized synthesis of Na2/3Ni1/3Mn2/3O2 as cathode for sodium-ion batteries by rapid microwave calcination

Embargado hasta 15/04/2025Microwave calcination is proposed as an alternative route to conventional heating to prepare layered P2–Na2/3Ni1/3Mn2/3O2 as a positive electrode for sodium-ion batteries. The sample obtained by the fastest conditions, with a heating ramp of 20 °C min−1 for only 2 h, showed well-crystallized rounded particles. Cyclic voltammetry and impedance spectroscopy evidenced a low internal cell resistance, and high diffusion coefficients, which justify its capability to sustain the highest capacity at 1 C and retain the discharge capacity for at least two hundred cycles