Use of SMS texts for facilitating access to online alcohol interventions: a feasibility study

A41 Use of SMS texts for facilitating access to online alcohol interventions: a feasibility study In: Addiction Science & Clinical Practice 2017, 12(Suppl 1): A4

Processing of wood-derived copper–silicon carbide composites via electrodeposition

An electrodeposition technique has been adapted to produce copper–silicon carbide composites with honeycomb-like microstructures. The detrimental Cu–SiC reaction was avoided by using this room temperature processing technique. The wood-derived silicon carbide phase allows for tailorable microstructures due to the variety of available wood precursors. Plating efficiency for each wood type was determined using image analysis. This processing method results in the successful filling of pores with aspect ratios of up to 100

Thermal Conductivity of Porous Silicon Carbide Derived from Wood Precursors

Biomorphic silicon carbide (bioSiC), a novel porous ceramic derived from natural wood precursors, has potential applicability at high temperatures, particularly when rapid temperature changes occur. The thermal conductivity of bioSiC from five different precursors was experimentally determined using flash diffusivity and specific heat measurements at temperatures ranging from room temperature to 1100°C. The results were compared with values obtained from object-oriented finite-element analysis (OOF). OOF was also used to model and understand the heat-flow paths through the complex bioSiC microstructures

Thermal properties of wood-derived copper–silicon carbide composites fabricated via electrodeposition

Copper–silicon carbide composites were fabricated by electrodeposition of copper into pores of wood-derived silicon carbide, a ceramic with a microstructure that can be tailored via the use of different wood precursors. Thermal conductivity values were determined using flash diffusivity at temperatures from 0 to 900 °C. Thermal conductivities of up to 202 W/mK at 0 °C and 148W/mK at 900 °C were achieved. Object-oriented finite-element analysis (OOF) modeling was used to understand the heat flux distributions throughout the microstructures. OOF was also used to calculate the effective thermal conductivity, which correlated well with experimentally-determined values for axially-oriented composites. In addition, OOF was used to predict effective conductivity values and heat flux distributions for transversely-oriented composites

Effect of pyrolyzation temperature on wood-derived carbon and silicon carbide

The structure of carbon and silicon carbide produced through the pyrolyzation of wood and the subsequent melt-infiltration with silicon was studied as a function of initial carbon pyrolyzation temperature. Scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, mercury intrusion porosimetry, X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy were used to characterize material derived from initial carbon pyrolyzation temperatures in the range of 300–2400 °C. It was determined that, although structural differences abound in carbon pyrolyzed at different temperatures, the resulting silicon carbide is independent of the initial temperature of carbon pyrolyzation

Processing, microstructure and mechanical behavior of SiC-based ceramics via naturally derived scaffolds

Biomorphic silicon carbide ceramics are a new class of materials fabricated by reactive infiltration of molten silicon with carbonaceus preforms obtained from wood pyrolysis. The resulting material is a Si/SiC composite, in which the SiC forms a skeleton that replicates the wood microstructure with unreacted Si filling the pores. The silicon can be removed from the composite creating a highly porous SiC material that can be refilled with other products, like metal alloys, to create ceramic/metal composites

Psychometric properties of the Italian version of the Cognitive Reserve Scale (I-CRS)

The original definition of cognitive reserve (CR) refers to the individual differences in cognitive performance after a brain damage or pathology. Several proxies were proposed to evaluate CR (education, occupational attainment, premorbid IQ, leisure activities). Recently, some scales were developed to measure CR taking into account several cognitively stimulating activities. The aim of this study is to adapt the Cognitive Reserve Scale (I-CRS) for the Italian population and to explore its psychometric properties. I-CRS was administered to 547 healthy participants, ranging from 18 to 89 years old, along with neuropsychological and behavioral scales to evaluate cognitive functioning, depressive symptoms, and apathy. Cronbach’s α, corrected item-total correlations, and the inter-item correlation matrix were calculated to evaluate the psychometric properties of the scale. Linear regression analysis was performed to build a correction grid of the I-CRS according to demographic variables. Correlational analyses were performed to explore the relationships between I-CRS and neuropsychological and behavioral scales. We found that age, sex, and education influenced the I-CRS score. Young adults and adults obtained higher I-CRS scores than elderly adults; women and participants with high educational attainment scored higher on I-CRS than men and participants with low education. I-CRS score correlated poorly with cognitive and depression scale scores, but moderately with apathy scale scores. I-CRS showed good psychometric properties and seemed to be a useful tool to assess CR in every adult life stage. Moreover, our findings suggest that apathy rather than depressive symptoms may interfere with the building of CR across the lifespan