Thermal and Dielectric Characterization of Multi-Walled Carbon NanotubesThermoplastic Polyurethanes Composites

[EN] Multi-walled carbon nanotubes-thermoplastic polyurethanes composites were characterized by means of differential scanning calorimetry and dielectric relaxation spectroscopy. The composite is characterized by two glass transition temperatures T (g) . The T (g) associated with the soft segment decreases by increasing of carbon nanotubes content, while carbon nanotubes content has practically no effect on the value of the T-g associated with the hard segments. It was observed that rising the temperature and carbon nanotubes content resulted in the increased of both the dielectric permittivity and the loss factor. The presence of carbon nanotubes produces an enhancement of charge carriers trapping, increasing the electrical conductivity. The electrical conductivity of the composite was found to exhibit an insulator to conductor transition at a carbon nanotubes critical content, i.e., the percolation threshold, near 6 wt %.MJS and MC acknowledge the financial support of the DGCYT through Grant MAT2015-63955-R.Sanchis Sánchez, MJ.; Carsí Rosique, M.; Gracia-Fernandez, C. (2017). Thermal and Dielectric Characterization of Multi-Walled Carbon NanotubesThermoplastic Polyurethanes Composites. Polymer Science Series A. 59(4):543-553. https://doi.org/10.1134/S0965545X17040083S543553594D. W. Schaefer and R. S. Justice, Macromolecules 40 (24), 8501 (2007).D. R. Raul and L. M. Robeson, Polymer 49 (15), 3187 (2008).P. J. Brigandi, J. M. Cogen, and R. A. Pearson, Polym. Eng. Sci. 54 (1), 1 (2014).H. Deng, L. Lin, M. Ji, S. Zhang, M. Yang, and Q. Fu, Prog. Polym. Sci. 39 (4), 627 (2014).Polymer-Matrix Composites. Types, Applications and Performance, Ed. by R. Kumar (Nova Sci. Publ., New York, 2014).Z. Wenying and Y. Demei, J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 118 (6), 3156 (2010).Y. P. Mamunya, V. V. Davydenko, P. Pissis, and E. V. Lebedev, Eur. Polym. J. 38 (9), 1887 (2002)B. Redondo-Foj, P. Ortiz-Serna, M. Carsí, M. J. Sanchis, M. Culebras, C. M. Gomez, and A. Cantarero, Polym. Int. 64, 284 (2015).S. Deng, Y. Zhu, X. Qi, W. Yu, F. Chen, and Q. Fu, RSC Adv. 6 (51), 45578 (2016).M. Khissi, M. El Hasnaoui, J. Belattar, M. P. F. Graca, M. E. Achour, and L. C. Costa, J. Mater. Environ. Sci. 2 (3), 281 (2011).M. Hindermann-Bischoff and F. Ehrburger-Dolle, Carbon 39 (3), 375 (2001).I. Balberg, Carbon 40 (2), 139 (2002).M. Moniruzzaman and K. I. Winey, Macromolecules 39, 5194 (2006).A. Bharati, R. Cardinaels, J. W. Seo, M. Wubbenhorst, and P. Moldenaers, Polymer 79 (19), 271 (2015)Szycher's Handbook of Polyurethanes, Ed. by M. Szycher (CRC Press, Washington, DC, 1999).C. Prisacariu, Polyurethane Elastomers. From Morphology to Mechanical Aspects (Springer, New York, 2011).P. Król, Prog. Mater. Sci. 52 (6), 915 (2007).P. R. de C. Coelho Filho, M. S. Marchesin, A. R. Morales, and J. R. Bartoli, Mater. Res. 17 (1), 127 (2014).R. H. Baughman, A. A. Zakhidov, and W. A. de Heer, Science 297 (5582), 787 (2002).J. Kim and Y. Son, Polymer 88, 29 (2016)M. A. Nikje Mir and A. Yaghoubi, Polimery 59(11–12), 776 (2014).C. Kingston, R. Zepp, A. Andrady, D. Boverho, R. Fehir, D. Hawkins, J. Roberts, P. Sayre, B. Shelton, Y. Sultan, V. Vejins, and W. Wohlleben, Carbon 68, 33 (2014).Anelastic and Dielectric Effects in Polymeric Solids, Ed. by N. G. McCrum, B. E. Read, and G. Williams (Wiley, London, 1967).In Broadband Dielectric Spectroscopy, Ed. by F. Kremer, and A. Schonhals (Springer, Berlin, 2003).E. Riande and R. Diaz-Calleja, Electrical Properties of Polymers (Marcel Dekker, New York, 2004).I. M. Hodge, K. L. Ngai, and C. T. Moynihan, J. Non-Cryst. Solids 351 (2), 104 (2005).A. Eceiza, M.D. Martin, K. de la Caba, G. Kortaberria, N. Gabilondo, M. A. Corcuera, and I. Mondragon, Polym. Eng. Sci. 48 (2), 297 (2008)A. K. Jonscher, Universal Relaxation Law: A Sequel to Dielectric Relaxation in Solids (Chelsea Dielectrics Press, London, 1996), Chap. 5.A. K. Jonscher, Nature 267, 673 (1977).G. Li, L. Feng, P. Tong, and Z. Zhai, Prog. Org. Coat. 90, 284 (2016)K. Petrie, M. Kontopoulou, and A. Docoslis, Polym. Compos. 37 (9), 2794 (2016)N. Aranburu and J. I. Eguiazabal, Polym. Compos. 35 (3), 587 (2014)Impedance Spectroscopy. Theory, Experiment, and Applications, Ed. by E. Barsoukov and J. R. Macdonals (Wiley Intersci., New York, 2005).S. Havriliak and S. J. Havriliak, Dielectric and Mechanical Relaxation in Materials (Hanser, Munich, 1997), p. 57.S. Havriliak and S. Negami, Polymer 8 (4), 161 (1967)

Effect of diacutaneous fibrolysis on the muscular properties of gastrocnemius muscle

Diacutaneous fibrolysis is a noninvasive technique that has been shown to be effective in the treatment of musculoskeletal disorders such as shoulder pain, lateral epicondylalgia, patellofemoral pain syndrome and carpal tunnel syndrome. However, while diacutaneous fibrolysis is applied to soft tissue, its effects on muscular properties are unknown. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effects of diacutaneous fibrolysis on muscle properties as measured by tensiomyography and myotonometry in asymptomatic subjects. An analytical descriptive study was performed. A single session of diacutaneous fibrolysis on the gastrocnemius muscle was applied to one limb (treated limb group) and the other limb was the control (control limb group). Subjects were assessed with tensiomyography and myotonometry before treatment (T0), after treatment (T1) and 30 minutes later (T2). The primary outcomes were tensiomyography and myotonometry variables. The treated limb group showed a statistically significant increase (p<0.05) in tensiomyography parameters. A decrease in rigidity and increase in relaxation was also observed on myotonometry at T1, with some of the effects being maintained at T2. Rigidity and relaxation at T1 were statistically significant between groups (p<0.05). A single session of diacutaneous fibrolysis to the gastrocnemius muscle of asymptomatic subjects produced immediate changes in muscle properties. These changes were maintained 30 minutes after the application of the technique

Synthesis of chitosan oligomers/propolis/silver-nanoparticles composite systems and study of their activity against Diplodia seriata

The synthesis and characterization of composites of oligomeric chitosan with propolis extract which allow the incorporation of a third component (silver nanoparticles) are reported, together with their application in aqueous or hydroalcoholic solutions with a view to the formation of adhesive substances or nanofilms for the protection of vineyards against harmful xylophagous fungi. The antimicrobial properties of the association of the two biological products or those resulting from the incorporation of silver nanoparticles (NPs) are studied and discussed. The efficacy of the chitosan oligomers/propolis/silver NPs ternary system is assessed in vitro for Diplodia fungi. A preliminary study on the convenience of replacing propolis with gentisic acid is also presented

Large enhancement of deuteron polarization with frequency modulated microwaves

We report a large enhancement of 1.7 in deuteron polarization up to values of 0.6 due to frequency modulation of the polarizing microwaves in a two liters polarized target using the method of dynamic nuclear polarization. This target was used during a deep inelastic polarized muon-deuteron scattering experiment at CERN. Measurements of the electron paramagnetic resonance absorption spectra show that frequency modulation gives rise to additional microwave absorption in the spectral wings. Although these results are not understood theoretically, they may provide a useful testing ground for the deeper understanding of dynamic nuclear polarization.Comment: 10 pages, including the figures coming in uuencoded compressed tar files in poltar.uu, which also brings cernart.sty and crna12.sty files neede

Quantum gravity phenomenology at the dawn of the multi-messenger era—A review

The exploration of the universe has recently entered a new era thanks to the multi-messenger paradigm, characterized by a continuous increase in the quantity and quality of experimental data that is obtained by the detection of the various cosmic messengers (photons, neutrinos, cosmic rays and gravitational waves) from numerous origins. They give us information about their sources in the universe and the properties of the intergalactic medium. Moreover, multi-messenger astronomy opens up the possibility to search for phenomenological signatures of quantum gravity. On the one hand, the most energetic events allow us to test our physical theories at energy regimes which are not directly accessible in accelerators; on the other hand, tiny effects in the propagation of very high energy particles could be amplified by cosmological distances. After decades of merely theoretical investigations, the possibility of obtaining phenomenological indications of Planck-scale effects is a revolutionary step in the quest for a quantum theory of gravity, but it requires cooperation between different communities of physicists (both theoretical and experimental). This review, prepared within the COST Action CA18108 “Quantum gravity phenomenology in the multi-messenger approach”, is aimed at promoting this cooperation by giving a state-of-the art account of the interdisciplinary expertise that is needed in the effective search of quantum gravity footprints in the production, propagation and detection of cosmic messengers.publishedVersio

Polarised quark distributions in the nucleon from semi-inclusive spin asymmetries

We present a measurement of semi-inclusive spin asymmetries for positively and negatively charged hadrons from deep inelastic scattering of polarised muons on polarised protons and deuterons in the range $0.003$1~GeV$^2$. Compared to our previous publication on this subject, with the new data the statistical errors have been reduced by nearly a factor of two. From these asymmetries and our inclusive spin asymmetries we determine the polarised quark distributions of valence quarks and non-strange sea quarks at $Q^2$=10~GeV$^2$. The polarised $u$ valence quark distribution, $\Delta u_v(x)$, is positive and the polarisation increases with $x$. The polarised $d$ valence quark distribution, $\Delta d_v(x)$, is negative and the non-strange sea distribution, $\Delta \bar q(x)$, is consistent with zero over the measured range of $x$. We find for the first moments $\int_0^1 \Delta u_v(x) {\rm d}x = 0.77 \pm 0.10 \pm 0.08$, $\int_0^1 \Delta d_v(x) {\rm d}x = -0.52 \pm 0.14 \pm 0.09$ and $\int_0^1 \Delta \bar q(x) {\rm d}x= 0.01 \pm 0.04 \pm 0.03$, where we assumed $\Delta \bar u(x) = \Delta \bar d(x)$. We also determine for the first time the second moments of the valence distributions $\int_0^1 x \Delta q_v(x) {\rm d}x$.We present a measurement of semi-inclusive spin asymmetries for positively and negatively charged hadrons from deep inelastic scattering of polarised muons on polarised protons and deuterons in the range $0.003$1 GeV$^2$. Compared to our previous publication on this subject, with the new data the statistical errors have been reduced by nearly a factor of two. From these asymmetries and our inclusive spin asymmetries we determine the polarised quark distributions of valence quarks and non-strange sea quarks at $Q^2$=10 GeV$^2$. The polarised $u$ valence quark distribution, $\Delta u_v(x)$, is positive and the polarisation increases with $x$. The polarised $d$ valence quark distribution, $\Delta d_v(x)$, is negative and the non-strange sea distribution, $\Delta \bar q(x)$, is consistent with zero over the measured range of $x$. We find for the first moments $\int_0^1 \Delta u_v(x) dx = 0.77 \pm 0.10 \pm 0.08$, $\int_0^1 \Delta d_v(x) dx = -0.52 \pm 0.14 \pm 0.09$ and $\int_0^1 \Delta \bar q(x) dx= 0.01 \pm 0.04 \pm 0.03$, where we assumed $\Delta \bar u(x) = \Delta \bar d(x)$. We also determine for the first time the second moments of the valence distributions $\int_0^1 x \Delta q_v(x) dx$.We present a measurement of semi-inclusive spin asymmetries for positively and negatively charged hadrons from deep inelastic scattering of polarised muons on polarised protons and deuterons in the range $0.003$1 GeV$^2$. Compared to our previous publication on this subject, with the new data the statistical errors have been reduced by nearly a factor of two. From these asymmetries and our inclusive spin asymmetries we determine the polarised quark distributions of valence quarks and non-strange sea quarks at $Q^2$=10 GeV$^2$. The polarised $u$ valence quark distribution, $\Delta u_v(x)$, is positive and the polarisation increases with $x$. The polarised $d$ valence quark distribution, $\Delta d_v(x)$, is negative and the non-strange sea distribution, $\Delta \bar q(x)$, is consistent with zero over the measured range of $x$. We find for the first moments $\int_0^1 \Delta u_v(x) dx = 0.77 \pm 0.10 \pm 0.08$, $\int_0^1 \Delta d_v(x) dx = -0.52 \pm 0.14 \pm 0.09$ and $\int_0^1 \Delta \bar q(x) dx= 0.01 \pm 0.04 \pm 0.03$, where we assumed $\Delta \bar u(x) = \Delta \bar d(x)$. We also determine for the first time the second moments of the valence distributions $\int_0^1 x \Delta q_v(x) dx$.We present a measurement of semi-inclusive spin asymmetries for positively and negatively charged hadrons from deep inelastic scattering of polarised muons on polarised protons and deuterons in the range $0.003$1 GeV$^2$. Compared to our previous publication on this subject, with the new data the statistical errors have been reduced by nearly a factor of two. From these asymmetries and our inclusive spin asymmetries we determine the polarised quark distributions of valence quarks and non-strange sea quarks at $Q^2$=10 GeV$^2$. The polarised $u$ valence quark distribution, $\Delta u_v(x)$, is positive and the polarisation increases with $x$. The polarised $d$ valence quark distribution, $\Delta d_v(x)$, is negative and the non-strange sea distribution, $\Delta \bar q(x)$, is consistent with zero over the measured range of $x$. We find for the first moments $\int_0^1 \Delta u_v(x) dx = 0.77 \pm 0.10 \pm 0.08$, $\int_0^1 \Delta d_v(x) dx = -0.52 \pm 0.14 \pm 0.09$ and $\int_0^1 \Delta \bar q(x) dx= 0.01 \pm 0.04 \pm 0.03$, where we assumed $\Delta \bar u(x) = \Delta \bar d(x)$. We also determine for the first time the second moments of the valence distributions $\int_0^1 x \Delta q_v(x) dx$.We present a measurement of semi-inclusive spin asymmetries for positively and negatively charged hadrons from deep inelastic scattering of polarised muons on polarised protons and deuterons in the range $0.003$1 GeV$^2$. Compared to our previous publication on this subject, with the new data the statistical errors have been reduced by nearly a factor of two. From these asymmetries and our inclusive spin asymmetries we determine the polarised quark distributions of valence quarks and non-strange sea quarks at $Q^2$=10 GeV$^2$. The polarised $u$ valence quark distribution, $\Delta u_v(x)$, is positive and the polarisation increases with $x$. The polarised $d$ valence quark distribution, $\Delta d_v(x)$, is negative and the non-strange sea distribution, $\Delta \bar q(x)$, is consistent with zero over the measured range of $x$. We find for the first moments $\int_0^1 \Delta u_v(x) dx = 0.77 \pm 0.10 \pm 0.08$, $\int_0^1 \Delta d_v(x) dx = -0.52 \pm 0.14 \pm 0.09$ and $\int_0^1 \Delta \bar q(x) dx= 0.01 \pm 0.04 \pm 0.03$, where we assumed $\Delta \bar u(x) = \Delta \bar d(x)$. We also determine for the first time the second moments of the valence distributions $\int_0^1 x \Delta q_v(x) dx$.We present a measurement of semi-inclusive spin asymmetries for positively and negatively charged hadrons from deep inelastic scattering of polarised muons on polarised protons and deuterons in the range 0.0031 GeV 2 . Compared to our previous publication on this subject, with the new data the statistical errors have been reduced by nearly a factor of two. From these asymmetries and our inclusive spin asymmetries we determine the polarised quark distributions of valence quarks and non-strange sea quarks at Q 2 =10 GeV 2 . The polarised u valence quark distribution, Δu v ( x ), is positive and the polarisation increases with x . The polarised d valence quark distribution, Δd v ( x ), is negative and the non-strange sea distribution, Δ q ̄ (x) , is consistent with zero over the measured range of x . We find for the first moments ∫ 0 1 Δu v (x) d x=0.77±0.10±0.08 , ∫ 0 1 Δd v (x) d x=−0.52±0.14±0.09 and ∫ 0 1 Δ q ̄ (x) d x=0.01±0.04±0.03 , where we assumed Δ u ̄ (x)=Δ d ̄ (x) . We also determine for the first time the second moments of the valence distributions ∫ 0 1 xΔq v (x) d x

Assessing associations between the AURKAHMMR-TPX2-TUBG1 functional module and breast cancer risk in BRCA1/2 mutation carriers

While interplay between BRCA1 and AURKA-RHAMM-TPX2-TUBG1 regulates mammary epithelial polarization, common genetic variation in HMMR (gene product RHAMM) may be associated with risk of breast cancer in BRCA1 mutation carriers. Following on these observations, we further assessed the link between the AURKA-HMMR-TPX2-TUBG1 functional module and risk of breast cancer in BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation carriers. Forty-one single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were genotyped in 15,252 BRCA1 and 8,211 BRCA2 mutation carriers and subsequently analyzed using a retrospective likelihood appr

The comparative responsiveness of Hospital Universitario Princesa Index and other composite indices for assessing rheumatoid arthritis activity

Objective To evaluate the responsiveness in terms of correlation of the Hospital Universitario La Princesa Index (HUPI) comparatively to the traditional composite indices used to assess disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and to compare the performance of HUPI-based response criteria with that of the EULAR response criteria. Methods Secondary data analysis from the following studies: ACT-RAY (clinical trial), PROAR (early RA cohort) and EMECAR (pre-biologic era long term RA cohort). Responsiveness was evaluated by: 1) comparing change from baseline (Delta) of HUPI with Delta in other scores by calculating correlation coefficients; 2) calculating standardised effect sizes. The accuracy of response by HUPI and by EULAR criteria was analyzed using linear regressions in which the dependent variable was change in global assessment by physician (Delta GDA-Phy). Results Delta HUPI correlation with change in all other indices ranged from 0.387 to 0.791); HUPI's standardized effect size was larger than those from the other indices in each database used. In ACT-RAY, depending on visit, between 65 and 80% of patients were equally classified by HUPI and EULAR response criteria. However, HUPI criteria were slightly more stringent, with higher percentage of patients classified as non-responder, especially at early visits. HUPI response criteria showed a slightly higher accuracy than EULAR response criteria when using Delta GDA-Phy as gold standard. Conclusion HUPI shows good responsiveness in terms of correlation in each studied scenario (clinical trial, early RA cohort, and established RA cohort). Response criteria by HUPI seem more stringent than EULAR''s

Event reconstruction for KM3NeT/ORCA using convolutional neural networks

The authors acknowledge the financial support of the funding agencies: Agence Nationale de la Recherche (contract ANR-15-CE31-0020), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Commission Europeenne (FEDER fund and Marie Curie Program), Institut Universitaire de France (IUF), LabEx UnivEarthS (ANR-10-LABX-0023 and ANR-18-IDEX-0001), Paris Ile-de-France Region, France; Shota Rustaveli National Science Foundation of Georgia (SRNSFG, FR-18-1268), Georgia; Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG), Germany; The General Secretariat of Research and Technology (GSRT), Greece; Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN), Ministero dell'Universita e della Ricerca (MUR), PRIN 2017 program (Grant NAT-NET 2017W4HA7S) Italy; Ministry of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Professional Training, Morocco; Nederlandse organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek (NWO), the Netherlands; The National Science Centre, Poland (2015/18/E/ST2/00758); National Authority for Scientific Research (ANCS), Romania; Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovacion, Investigacion y Universidades (MCIU): Programa Estatal de Generacion de Conocimiento (refs. PGC2018-096663-B-C41, -A-C42, -B-C43, -B-C44) (MCIU/FEDER), Severo Ochoa Centre of Excellence and MultiDark Consolider (MCIU), Junta de Andalucia (ref. SOMM17/6104/UGR), Generalitat Valenciana: Grisolia (ref. GRISOLIA/2018/119) and GenT (ref. CIDEGENT/2018/034) programs, La Caixa Foundation (ref. LCF/BQ/IN17/11620019), EU: MSC program (ref. 713673), Spain.The KM3NeT research infrastructure is currently under construction at two locations in the Mediterranean Sea. The KM3NeT/ORCA water-Cherenkov neutrino detector off the French coast will instrument several megatons of seawater with photosensors. Its main objective is the determination of the neutrino mass ordering. This work aims at demonstrating the general applicability of deep convolutional neural networks to neutrino telescopes, using simulated datasets for the KM3NeT/ORCA detector as an example. To this end, the networks are employed to achieve reconstruction and classification tasks that constitute an alternative to the analysis pipeline presented for KM3NeT/ORCA in the KM3NeT Letter of Intent. They are used to infer event reconstruction estimates for the energy, the direction, and the interaction point of incident neutrinos. The spatial distribution of Cherenkov light generated by charged particles induced in neutrino interactions is classified as shower- or track-like, and the main background processes associated with the detection of atmospheric neutrinos are recognized. Performance comparisons to machine-learning classification and maximum-likelihood reconstruction algorithms previously developed for KM3NeT/ORCA are provided. It is shown that this application of deep convolutional neural networks to simulated datasets for a large-volume neutrino telescope yields competitive reconstruction results and performance improvements with respect to classical approaches.French National Research Agency (ANR) ANR-15-CE31-0020Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Commission Europeenne (FEDER fund)European Union (EU)Institut Universitaire de France (IUF)LabEx UnivEarthS ANR-10-LABX-0023 ANR-18-IDEX-0001Shota Rustaveli National Science Foundation of Georgia FR-18-1268German Research Foundation (DFG)Greek Ministry of Development-GSRTIstituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN)Ministry of Education, Universities and Research (MIUR) Research Projects of National Relevance (PRIN)Ministry of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Professional Training, MoroccoNetherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO)National Science Centre, Poland 2015/18/E/ST2/00758National Authority for Scientific Research (ANCS), RomaniaMinisterio de Ciencia, Innovacion, Investigacion y Universidades PGC2018-096663-B-C41 A-C42 B-C43 B-C44Severo Ochoa Centre of ExcellenceJunta de Andalucia SOMM17/6104/UGRGeneralitat Valenciana: Grisolia GRISOLIA/2018/119 CIDEGENT/2018/034La Caixa Foundation LCF/BQ/IN17/11620019EU: MSC program 71367