32 research outputs found
Regenerated Cellulose Fiber Solar Cell
Wearable electronics and smart textiles are growing fields in the cause to
integrate modern communication and computing tools into clothing instead of
carrying around smart phones and tablets. Naturally, this also requires power
sources to be integrated in textiles. In this paper, a proof-of-concept is
presented in form of a photovoltaic cell based on a commercially available
viscose fiber. This has been realized using a silver nanowire network around
the viscose fiber to establish electrical contact and a photoactive coating
using the standard workhorse among organic thin film solar cells, a blend of
poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) and phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM).
Structure and performance of single fiber devices demonstrate their feasibility
and functionality. The applied materials and methods are compatible to solution
processing therewith qualifying for potential roll-to-roll large-scale
production
Notulae to the Italian flora of algae, bryophytes, fungi and lichens: 7
In this contribution, new data concerning algae, bryophytes, fungi, and lichens of the Italian flora are presented. It includes new records and confirmations for the algae genus Chara, the bryophyte genera Cephalozia, Conardia, Conocephalum, Didymodon, Sphagnum, Tetraplodon, and Tortula, the fungal genera Endophyllum, Gymnosporangium, Microbotryum, Phragmidium, and Pluteus, and the lichen genera Candelariella, Cladonia, Flavoplaca, Lichenothelia, Peltigera, Placolecis, Rinodina, Scytinium, and Solenopsora
Impact of sex and gender on post-COVID-19 syndrome, Switzerland, 2020
Background: Women are overrepresented among individuals with post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC). Biological (sex) as well as sociocultural (gender) differences between women and men might account for this imbalance, yet their impact on PASC is unknown. Aim: We assessed the impact of sex and gender on PASC in a Swiss population. Method: Our multicentre prospective cohort study included 2,856 (46% women, mean age 44.2â±â16.8 years) outpatients and hospitalised patients with PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection.ResultsAmong those who remained outpatients during their first infection, women reported persisting symptoms more often than men (40.5% vs 25.5% of men; pâ<â0.001). This sex difference was absent in hospitalised patients. In a crude analysis, both female biological sex (RRâŻ=âŻ1.59; 95%âŻCI: 1.41-1.79; pâ<â0.001) and a score summarising gendered sociocultural variables (RRâŻ=âŻ1.05; 95%âŻCI: 1.03-1.07; pâ<â0.001) were significantly associated with PASC. Following multivariable adjustment, biological female sex (RRâŻ=âŻ0.96; 95%âŻCI: 0.74-1.25; pâ=â0.763) was outperformed by feminine gender-related factors such as a higher stress level (RRâŻ=âŻ1.04; 95%âŻCI: 1.01-1.06; pâ=â0.003), lower education (RRâŻ=âŻ1.16; 95%âŻCI: 1.03-1.30; pâ=â0.011), being female and living alone (RRâŻ=âŻ1.91; 95%âŻCI: 1.29-2.83; pâ=â0.001) or being male and earning the highest income in the household (RRâŻ=âŻ0.76; 95%âŻCI: 0.60-0.97; pâ=â0.030). Conclusion: Specific sociocultural parameters that differ in prevalence between women and men, or imply a unique risk for women, are predictors of PASC and may explain, at least in part, the higher incidence of PASC in women. Once patients are hospitalised during acute infection, sex differences in PASC are no longer evident
Cellulose ternary photonic crystal created by solution processing
For the first time, a multiplanar photonic crystal structure has been obtained using cellulose as a structural material. This all-polymer system, made of cellulose, polyvinyl alcohol and poly(N-vinylcarbazole) is a ternary planar photonic crystal composed by 7 repeated trilayers produced by spin coating. Trimethylsilyl cellulose is used as a precursor to be converted to cellulose. Transverse Transmission Electron Microscopy analysis of our systems confirms the multilayered structure whose optical response can be theoretically accounted for. Preliminary results on the response of the photonic crystal to water vapors envisage the use of this system for humidity optical sensing
The Impact of Antimony on the Performance of Antimony Doped Tin Oxide Supported Platinum for the Oxygen Reduction Reaction
Daniel Jalalpoor, Daniel Göhl, Paul Paciok, Marc Heggen, Johannes Knossalla, Ivan Radev, Volker Peinecke, Claudia Weidenthaler, Karl J. J. Mayrhofer, âThe Impact of Antimony on the Performance of Antimony Doped Tin Oxide Supported Platinum for the Oxygen Reduction Reactionâ, J. Electrochem. Soc. 168, (2021) 024502 https://doi.org/10.1149/1945-7111/abd830 Abstract:Antimony doped tin oxide (ATO) supported platinum nanoparticles are considered a more stable replacement for conventional carbon supported platinum materials for the oxygen reduction reaction. However, the interplay of antimony, tin and platinum and its impact on the catalytic activity and durability has only received minor attention. This is partly due to difficulties in the preparation of morphology- and surface-area-controlled antimony-doped tin oxide materials. The presented study sheds light onto catalystâsupport interaction on a fundamental level, specifically between platinum as a catalyst and ATO as a support material. By using a previously described hard-templating method, a series of morphology controlled ATO support materials for platinum nanoparticles with different antimony doping concentrations were prepared. Compositional and morphological changes before and during accelerated stress tests are monitored, and underlying principles of deactivation, dissolution and catalytic performance are elaborated. We demonstrate that mobilized antimony species and strong metal support interactions lead to Pt/Sb alloy formation as well as partially blocking of active sites. This has adverse consequences on the accessible platinum surface area, and affects negatively the catalytic performance of platinum. Operando time-resolved dissolution experiments uncover the potential boundary conditions at which antimony dissolution can be effectively suppressed and how platinum influences the dissolution behavior of the support
An Esterase from Anaerobic Clostridium hathewayi Can Hydrolyze AliphaticâAromatic Polyesters
Recently, a variety of biodegradable polymers have been developed as alternatives to recalcitrant materials. Although many studies on polyester biodegradability have focused on aerobic environments, there is much less known on biodegradation of polyesters in natural and artificial anaerobic habitats. Consequently, the potential of anaerobic biogas sludge to hydrolyze the synthetic compostable polyester PBAT (poly(butylene adipate-co-butylene terephthalate) was evaluated in this study. On the basis of reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) analysis, accumulation of terephthalic acid (Ta) was observed in all anaerobic batches within the first 14 days. Thereafter, a decline of Ta was observed, which occurred presumably due to consumption by the microbial population. The esterase Chath_Est1 from the anaerobic risk 1 strain Clostridium hathewayi DSM-13479 was found to hydrolyze PBAT. Detailed characterization of this esterase including elucidation of the crystal structure was performed. The crystal structure indicates that Chath_Est1 belongs to the α/ÎČ-hydrolases family. This study gives a clear hint that also micro-organisms in anaerobic habitats can degrade manmade PBAT
Organic coating on biochar explains its nutrient retention and stimulation of soil fertility
Biochar promotes plant growth via a slow release of nutrients; however, a mechanistic understanding of nutrient storage in biochar is lacking. Here, using high-resolution spectromicroscopy and mass spectrometry, the authors identify an organic coating on co-composted particles that enhances nutrient retention
The Lark and the Nigthingale: Shakespeare et lâOpĂ©ra / Shakespeare e lâOpera
International audienceIl presente volume include diciannove saggi sulle fonti shakepeariane nella librettistica. Strutturato in sei parti, raccoglie studi sugli adattamenti delle tragedie (Re Lear) e delle commedie (La bisbetica domata, Tanto rumore per nulla, La tempesta) e, in cinque sezioni monografiche, di Romeo e Giulietta, Amleto, Otello, Macbeth e Sogno di una notte di mezza estate. Rende pubblici i risultati della quarta fase dei seminari dedicati a «LâOpĂ©ra narrateur», Shakespeare e lâOpera (2014â2015), tenutisi nellâambito del Laboratoire dâĂtudes Romanes dellâUniversitĂ Paris 8, in collaborazione con LâAmΩ LâAntique, le ModerneâCentre de recherche en littĂ©rature dellâUniversitĂ di Nantes e con il Groupe de recherche LittĂ©ratureâMusique dellâĂcole Normale SupĂ©rieure di Parigi. Analizza il modo in cui la scena musicale ha saputo interpretare ai propri fini le azioni shakespeariane, privilegiando il nesso tra modello letterario e scrittura per il teatro in musica, senza trascurare le questioni inerenti alla messinscena, alla scenografia e alla coreografia
The Lark and the Nigthingale: Shakespeare et lâOpĂ©ra / Shakespeare e lâOpera
International audienceIl presente volume include diciannove saggi sulle fonti shakepeariane nella librettistica. Strutturato in sei parti, raccoglie studi sugli adattamenti delle tragedie (Re Lear) e delle commedie (La bisbetica domata, Tanto rumore per nulla, La tempesta) e, in cinque sezioni monografiche, di Romeo e Giulietta, Amleto, Otello, Macbeth e Sogno di una notte di mezza estate. Rende pubblici i risultati della quarta fase dei seminari dedicati a «LâOpĂ©ra narrateur», Shakespeare e lâOpera (2014â2015), tenutisi nellâambito del Laboratoire dâĂtudes Romanes dellâUniversitĂ Paris 8, in collaborazione con LâAmΩ LâAntique, le ModerneâCentre de recherche en littĂ©rature dellâUniversitĂ di Nantes e con il Groupe de recherche LittĂ©ratureâMusique dellâĂcole Normale SupĂ©rieure di Parigi. Analizza il modo in cui la scena musicale ha saputo interpretare ai propri fini le azioni shakespeariane, privilegiando il nesso tra modello letterario e scrittura per il teatro in musica, senza trascurare le questioni inerenti alla messinscena, alla scenografia e alla coreografia