Platinum Coated Copper Nanowires and Platinum Nanotubes as Oxygen Reduction Electrocatalysts

Platinum (Pt) coated copper (Cu) nanowires (Pt/CuNWs) are synthesized by the partial galvanic displacement of Cu nanowires (CuNWs) with a Pt loading of 18 wt %. Pt/CuNWs have an outer diameter of 100 nm, a length of 25–40 μm, and a theoretical Pt layer thickness of 2 nm. Cu templated Pt nanotubes (PtNTs (Cu)) with a wall thickness of 11 nm, an outer diameter of 100 nm, and a length of 5–20 μm are synthesized by the complete galvanic displacement of CuNWs. CuNWs are synthesized by the hydrazine reduction of Cu nitrate in sodium hydroxide. Oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and durability experiments are conducted on Pt/CuNWs, PtNTs (Cu), silver templated PtNTs (Ag), and carbon supported Pt nanoparticles (Pt/C) to evaluate catalyst activity for use as proton exchange membrane fuel cell cathodes. The ORR area activities of Pt/CuNWs and PtNTs (Cu) are 1.501 and 1.506 mA cm_Pt^–2, respectively. Pt/CuNWs produce a dollar activity of 9.8 A $^–1 (dollar activity calculated from the DOE mass activity target for 2017–2020 of 0.44 A mg_PGM^–1). Durability testing of each catalyst shows improved retention of surface area and ORR activity in comparison to Pt/C

Exercise as adjunctive treatment for alcohol use disorder: A randomized controlled trial

<div><p>Aims</p><p>To examine whether physical activity as an adjunct to outpatient alcohol treatment has an effect on alcohol consumption following participation in an exercise intervention of six months’ duration, and at 12 months after treatment initiation.</p><p>Methods</p><p>The study is a randomized controlled study with three arms: Patients allocated to (A) treatment as usual, (B) treatment as usual and supervised group exercise, (C) treatment as usual and individual physical exercise. The primary outcome measure was excessive drinking six months after treatment start and completion of the intervention. A logistic regression model was used to evaluate the odds of excessive drinking among the three groups, based on intention-to-treat. Changes in level of physical activity in all three groups were tested by using a generalized linear mixed model. A multiple linear model was used to test if there was an association between amount of performed physical activity and alcohol consumption.</p><p>Results</p><p>A total of 175 patients (68.6% male) participated. Response rates were 77.7% at six months and 57.1% at 12 months follow-up. OR 0.99 [95% CI: 0.46; 2.14], p = 0.976 for excessive drinking in the group exercise condition, and 1.02 [95% CI: 0.47; 2.18], p = 0.968 in the individual exercise condition, which, when compared to the control group as reference, did not differ statistically significantly. Participants with moderate level physical activity had lower odds for excessive drinking OR = 0.12 [0.05; 0.31], p<0.001 than participants with low level physical activity. Amount of alcohol consumption in the intervention groups decreased by 4% [95% CI: 0.03; 6.8], p = 0.015 for each increased exercising day.</p><p>Conclusions</p><p>No direct effect of physical exercise on drinking outcome was found. Moderate level physical activity was protective against excessive drinking following treatment. A dose-response effect of exercise on drinking outcome supports the need for implementing physically active lifestyles for patients in treatment for alcohol use disorder.</p></div

CONSORT flowchart of participant inclusion, follow-up and analysis.

<p>CONSORT flowchart of participant inclusion, follow-up and analysis.</p

Baseline demographics and clinical characteristics of the study sample (N = 175).

<p>Baseline demographics and clinical characteristics of the study sample (N = 175).</p

Six month clinical characteristics of the study sample (N = 113).

<p>Six month clinical characteristics of the study sample (N = 113).</p