Ring-opening polymerization of non-ionic eutectic mixtures for the synthesis of macroporous polyesters by emulsion templating

This work encompasses the study of the sequential ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of deep eutectic system monomers (DESm) composed of L-lactide (LLA) and ε-caprolactone (CL) at low temperatures and in solventless conditions.The tunable average molecular weight, crystallinity, polymer architectures, and controlled degradation profiles of these polyesters depended on the organocatalysts employed, including 1,5-diazabicyclo[4.3.0]non-5-ene (DBN), a new catalyst for the LLA-CL DESm ROP. Thus, fine-tuning the synthetic parameters led to the synthesis of polymer blends and a block copolymer. The toolbox of DESm capable of undergoing low-temperature and solventless ROP was further extended to LLA and various lactones, including δ-valerolactone and δ-hexalactone. The ROP of these DESm was also catalyzed by guanidine- and sulfonic acid-based organocatalysts for LLA and lactones, respectively. Finally, polycaprolactone triol (PCLT) and OH-terminated polyethylene glycol (PEG) were investigated as multifunctional macroinitiators in the solventless ROP of LLA-CL DESm catalyzed by 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU) and methanesulfonic acid. Branched or linear PLLA copolymers with PCLT or PEG, respectively, were blended with PCL after the sequential ROP of LLA-CL DESm. The insights gained into the DESm ROP in bulk were advantageously used to design polymerizable high internal phase emulsions (HIPEs) oil-in-DESm. These emulsions sustained the efficient organocatalyzed ROP of the continuous phase. The resulting polymer replicas of the HIPEs, characterized by macroporous and interconnected structures, were capable of sorbing crude oil.The mild polymerization temperatures and solventless conditions stand as green features of the ROP developed in this work to prepare resorbable biomaterials with programmable degradation profiles

Ring-opening polymerization of non-ionic eutectic mixtures for the synthesis of macroporous polyesters by emulsion templating

This work encompasses the study of the sequential ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of deep eutectic system monomers (DESm) composed of L-lactide (LLA) and ε-caprolactone (CL) at low temperatures and in solventless conditions.The tunable average molecular weight, crystallinity, polymer architectures, and controlled degradation profiles of these polyesters depended on the organocatalysts employed, including 1,5-diazabicyclo[4.3.0]non-5-ene (DBN), a new catalyst for the LLA-CL DESm ROP. Thus, fine-tuning the synthetic parameters led to the synthesis of polymer blends and a block copolymer. The toolbox of DESm capable of undergoing low-temperature and solventless ROP was further extended to LLA and various lactones, including δ-valerolactone and δ-hexalactone. The ROP of these DESm was also catalyzed by guanidine- and sulfonic acid-based organocatalysts for LLA and lactones, respectively. Finally, polycaprolactone triol (PCLT) and OH-terminated polyethylene glycol (PEG) were investigated as multifunctional macroinitiators in the solventless ROP of LLA-CL DESm catalyzed by 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU) and methanesulfonic acid. Branched or linear PLLA copolymers with PCLT or PEG, respectively, were blended with PCL after the sequential ROP of LLA-CL DESm. The insights gained into the DESm ROP in bulk were advantageously used to design polymerizable high internal phase emulsions (HIPEs) oil-in-DESm. These emulsions sustained the efficient organocatalyzed ROP of the continuous phase. The resulting polymer replicas of the HIPEs, characterized by macroporous and interconnected structures, were capable of sorbing crude oil.The mild polymerization temperatures and solventless conditions stand as green features of the ROP developed in this work to prepare resorbable biomaterials with programmable degradation profiles

Localization of fermions in different domain wall models

Localization of fermions is studied in different gravitational domain wall models. These are generalizations of the brane-world models considered by Randall and Sundrum, but which also allow gravitational localization. Therefore, they might be considered as possible realistic scenarios for phenomenology.Comment: RevTeX, 6 pages, 10 figure

An economic evaluation of salt reduction policies to reduce coronary heart disease in England: a policy modeling study

AbstractObjectivesDietary salt intake has been causally linked to high blood pressure and increased risk of cardiovascular events. Cardiovascular disease causes approximately 35% of total UK deaths, at an estimated annual cost of £30 billion. The World Health Organization and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence have recommended a reduction in the intake of salt in people's diets. This study evaluated the cost-effectiveness of four population health policies to reduce dietary salt intake on an English population to prevent coronary heart disease (CHD).MethodsThe validated IMPACT CHD model was used to quantify and compare four policies: 1) Change4Life health promotion campaign, 2) front-of-pack traffic light labeling to display salt content, 3) Food Standards Agency working with the food industry to reduce salt (voluntary), and 4) mandatory reformulation to reduce salt in processed foods. The effectiveness of these policies in reducing salt intake, and hence blood pressure, was determined by systematic literature review. The model calculated the reduction in mortality associated with each policy, quantified as life-years gained over 10 years. Policy costs were calculated using evidence from published sources. Health care costs for specific CHD patient groups were estimated. Costs were compared against a “do nothing” baseline.ResultsAll policies resulted in a life-year gain over the baseline. Change4life and labeling each gained approximately 1960 life-years, voluntary reformulation 14,560 life-years, and mandatory reformulation 19,320 life-years. Each policy appeared cost saving, with mandatory reformulation offering the largest cost saving, more than £660 million.ConclusionsAll policies to reduce dietary salt intake could gain life-years and reduce health care expenditure on coronary heart disease

Scaling Milton Keynes power requirements for electrical transportation

Milton Keynes is home to the UK’s first installation of a wirelessly charged passenger bus route. This Inductive Power Transfer (IPT) system enables a fleet of 8 electric buses to service a demanding 15-mile urban route. Opportunistic wireless charging of the batteries during the layover time at the routes allows reducing the size of the batteries, consequently improving cost and performance characteristics of the bus. This paper aims to analyze the effects of electric buses on the electricity distribution grid. In particular, the paper analyses scalability of the IPT solution to all urban routes in Milton Keynes and compares peak power requirements generated at different points in the network with typical industrial and commercial (I&C) loads

Ocurrencia natural del hiperparásito Ampelomyces quisqualis (Ascomycota, Phaeosphaeriaceae) en ambientes urbanos de Tucumán (Argentina)

Platanus × acerifolia es usado como un árbol urbano de sombra a lo largo de Argentina. A finales del otoño e invierno del 2023, las hojas y frutos de P. × acerifolia que mostraban los típicos síntomas de un mildiú pulverulento, se recolectaron en las principales calles de Tucumán, Argentina. Basados en su morfología y comparando con descripciones disponibles, el hongo fue identificado como la forma asexual de Erysiphe platani. Los especímenes estaban fuertemente hiperparasitados por Ampelomyces quisqualis, un ascomicete micoparásito usado como controlador biológico natural del desarrollo de especies de mildiú pulverulento. Este trabajo reporta la ocurrencia natural de Ampelomyces en ambientes urbanos de Argentina. Se describen e ilustran los síntomas de la enfermedad y las características morfológicas del anamorfo y el micoparásito.Platanus × acerifolia is used as an urban shade tree in many cities throughout Argentina.In late autumn and winter of 2023, leaves and fruits of P. × acerifolia showingtypical symptoms of a powdery mildew were collected along the main streets ofTucumán, Argentina. Its morphology and comparison with published descriptionsallowed us to identify the fungus as the asexual morph of Erysiphe platani. Thespecimens were heavily hyperparasitized by Ampelomyces quisqualis, a mycoparasiticascomycete, used as a natural biological control of the development of powderymildew species. This work reports the natural occurrence of Ampelomyces in urbanenvironments in Argentina. The disease symptoms and morphological characteristicsof the powdery mildew anamorph and the mycoparasite are described and illustrated.Fil: Castillo, Lucas A.. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo; ArgentinaFil: Suarez, Guillermo Martin. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico - Tucumán. Unidad Ejecutora Lillo; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo; Argentin