Conductive electrospun Polyaniline/Polyvinylpyrrolidone nanofibers: Electrical and morphological characterization of new yarns for electronic textiles

UID/CTM/50025/2019Advanced functionalities textiles embedding electronic fibers, yarns and fabrics are a demand for innovative smart cloths. Conductive electrospun membranes and yarns based on polyaniline/polyvinylpyrrolidone (PANI/PVP) were investigated using the chemical modification of PANI instead of using conventional coating processes as in-situ polymerization. PANI was synthesized from the aniline monomer and the influence of the oxidant-to-monomer ratio on electrical conductivity was studied. The optimized conductivity of pellets made with pressed PANI powders was 21 S·cm-1. Yarns were then prepared from the t-Boc-PANI/PVP electrospun membranes followed by PANI protonation to enhance their electrical properties. Using this methodology, electrospun membranes and yarns were produced with electrical conductivities of 1.7 x 10-2 and 4.1 x 10-4 S·cm-1.publishersversionpublishe

Preparation and luminescent properties of nanoparticle-organic polymer composites

This thesis reports investigations into some photophysical aspects of luminescent nanocomposites in a number of different systems. The preparation of Ln[sup]3+ doped rutile SnO[sub]2 (Ln = Sm, Eu, Tb, Ho, Nd) by a sol-gel method is described. Average particle size was found to be 23nm by x-ray powder diffraction and electron microscopy. Factors affecting growth kinetics are also discussed. Successful sensitisation of Ln[sup]3+ emission via SnO[sub]2 host energy transfer is reported. Optimum Ln[su]3+ concentrations were investigated and a proposed mechanism of Dexter type energy transfer based on SnO[sub]2 lattice defects acting as sensitising centres is presented. The relationship between the Ln ionic radius and the dopant concentration required to maximise its emission is also explored. It was found that the larger the ionic radii, the less Ln[sup]3+ was required to maximise its emission. Investigations into the distance dependence of the energy transfer between Ln[su]3+ and Sn[sup]4+ as well as between neighbouring Ln[su]3+ ions have been undertaken - e.g. it was concluded that maximum Sm[sup]3+ sensitisation occurred when every fourth Sn ion was substituted by Sm. Poly(p-phenylene vinylene) (PPV) was synthesised via the thermal conversion route proposed by Wessling and Zimmerman. Monomers, precursor polymer and polymer were fully characterized by means of infra-red, UV-Vis absorption and photoluminescence spectroscopy. By-products were also characterised by [sup]1H and [sup]3C-NMR. Incorporation of the SnO2:Ln[sup]3+ nanocomposites into PPV was followed by extensive photoluminescent studies. It was found that sensitisation of both polymer and lanthanide was dependent on the system composition and concentration ratios. There was clear evidence to support successful harvesting of PPV non-emissive triplet state energy into useful Ln[sup]3+ photon emission. To better benefit from triplet state population, a poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) two-dimensional hydrogen-bonded cage was used to reduce the triplet quenching. A proposed mechanism of energy transfer is described for each system. Finally, poly(2,5-bis(3-sulfonatoproproxy)-1,4-phenylene, disodium salt-alt-1,4-phenylene) (PPP-OPSO[sub]3) was used as a donor, to systematically compare the effect of SnO[sub]2:Ln[sup]3+ nanoparticles on the luminescence of a polymer with a larger band gap and higher triplet state energy. It was established that the high triplet state of PPP-OPSO[sub]3 matched the emissive levels of most lanthanides, and a clear indication of triplet harvesting by Eu[sup]3+ was obtained under oxygen-free conditions in a PVA amtrix. Exchange of the polymer's Na{sup]+ cation by Eu[sup]3+ brought both donor and acceptor into close proximity. Dexter type energy transfer was seen from both singlet and triplet states, with Eu[sup]3+ emission lifetimes as long as 400ms in phosphorescence measurements

Cul p-type thin films for highly transparent thermoelectric p-n modules

| openaire: EC/H2020/645241/EU//TransFlexTegDevelopments in thermoelectric (TE) transparent p-type materials are scarce and do not follow the trend of the corresponding n-type materials - a limitation of the current transparent thermoelectric devices. P-type thermoelectric thin films of Cul have been developed by three different methods in order to maximise optical transparency (>70% in the visible range), electrical (sigma = 1.1 x 10(4) Sm-1) and thermoelectric properties (ZT= 0.22 at 300 K). These have been applied in the first planar fully transparent p-n type TE modules where gallium-doped zinc oxide (GZO) thin films were used as the n-type element and indium thin oxide (ITO) thin films as electrodes. A thorough study of power output in single elements and p-n modules electrically connected in series and thermally connected in parallel is inclosed. This configuration allows for a whole range of highly transparent thermoelectric applications.Peer reviewe

Characterisation of microbial attack on archaeological bone

As part of an EU funded project to investigate the factors influencing bone preservation in the archaeological record, more than 250 bones from 41 archaeological sites in five countries spanning four climatic regions were studied for diagenetic alteration. Sites were selected to cover a range of environmental conditions and archaeological contexts. Microscopic and physical (mercury intrusion porosimetry) analyses of these bones revealed that the majority (68%) had suffered microbial attack. Furthermore, significant differences were found between animal and human bone in both the state of preservation and the type of microbial attack present. These differences in preservation might result from differences in early taphonomy of the bones. © 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved

Risk Categorization Using New American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Guidelines for Cholesterol Management and Its Relation to Alirocumab Treatment Following Acute Coronary Syndromes

10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.119.042551CIRCULATION140191578-158

Effect of Alirocumab on Mortality After Acute Coronary Syndromes An Analysis of the ODYSSEY OUTCOMES Randomized Clinical Trial

10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.118.038840CIRCULATION1402103-11

Apolipoprotein B, Residual Cardiovascular Risk After Acute Coronary Syndrome, and Effects of Alirocumab.

Background: Apolipoprotein B (apoB) provides an integrated measure of atherogenic risk. Whether apoB levels and apoB lowering hold incremental predictive information on residual risk after acute coronary syndrome beyond that provided by low-density lipoprotein cholesterol is uncertain. Methods: The ODYSSEY OUTCOMES trial (Evaluation of Cardiovascular Outcomes After an Acute Coronary Syndrome During Treatment With Alirocumab) compared the proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 inhibitor alirocumab with placebo in 18 924 patients with recent acute coronary syndrome and elevated atherogenic lipoproteins despite optimized statin therapy. Primary outcome was major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE; coronary heart disease death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, fatal/nonfatal ischemic stroke, hospitalization for unstable angina). Associations between baseline apoB or apoB at 4 months and MACE were assessed in adjusted Cox proportional hazards and propensity score–matched models. Results: Median follow-up was 2.8 years. In proportional hazards analysis in the placebo group, MACE incidence increased across increasing baseline apoB strata (3.2 [95% CI, 2.9–3.6], 4.0 [95% CI, 3.6–4.5], and 5.5 [95% CI, 5.0–6.1] events per 100 patient-years in strata 35–<50, and ≤35 mg/dL, respectively). Compared with propensity score–matched patients from the placebo group, treatment hazard ratios for alirocumab also decreased monotonically across achieved apoB strata. Achieved apoB was predictive of MACE after adjustment for achieved low-density lipoprotein cholesterol or non–high-density lipoprotein cholesterol but not vice versa. Conclusions: In patients with recent acute coronary syndrome and elevated atherogenic lipoproteins, MACE increased across baseline apoB strata. Alirocumab reduced MACE across all strata of baseline apoB, with larger absolute reductions in patients with higher baseline levels. Lower achieved apoB was associated with lower risk of MACE, even after accounting for achieved low-density lipoprotein cholesterol or non–high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, indicating that apoB provides incremental information. Achievement of apoB levels as low as ≤35 mg/dL may reduce lipoprotein-attributable residual risk after acute coronary syndrome. Registration: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov ; Unique identifier: NCT01663402.gov; Unique identifier: NCT01663402.URL: https://www