Photonic Sorting of Aligned, Crystalline Carbon Nanotube Textiles

Floating catalyst chemical vapor deposition uniquely generates aligned carbon nanotube (CNT) textiles with individual CNT lengths magnitudes longer than competing processes, though hindered by impurities and intrinsic/extrinsic defects. We present a photonic-based post-process, particularly suited for these textiles, that selectively removes defective CNTs and other carbons not forming a threshold thermal pathway. In this method, a large diameter laser beam rasters across the surface of a partly aligned CNT textile in air, suspended from its ends. This results in brilliant, localized oxidation, where remaining material is an optically transparent film comprised of few-walled CNTs with profound and unique improvement in microstructure alignment and crystallinity. Raman spectroscopy shows substantial D peak suppression while preserving radial breathing modes. This increases the undoped, specific electrical conductivity at least an order of magnitude to beyond that of single-crystal graphite. Cryogenic conductivity measurements indicate intrinsic transport enhancement, opposed to simply removing nonconductive carbons/residual catalyst

Evaluation of Urban Tree Leaf Biomass-Potential, Physico-Mechanical and Chemical Parameters of Raw Material and Solid Biofuel

The paper presents the results of research aimed at evaluating the possibility of using selected tree leaf species to produce solid biofuels. The possibility of production of qualitative solid biofuels from urban tree leaves meets the expectations of the municipal sector. Collection of tree leaves in urban areas is very often necessary for road safety reasons, the need to collect biomass rich in dust and pollution as well as biomass infested with pests. The production of solid biofuels from tree leaves allows for effective management of this raw material with energy recovery. The performed research indicates such a possibility, and the obtained ash is used as a soil improver. The conducted research showed that the biomass of leaves of five tree species used in the experiment can be a source of raw materials for production of qualitative biofuels. The obtained pellets were characterized by properties comparable to those of classical wood pellets. The lower heating value of the obtained pellets ranged from 14.5 to 15.5 MJ∙kg−1. Physical properties of the obtained pellets described by bulk density (BD 600–660 kg∙m−3), mechanical durability (DU 90–96%), moisture (Mar 10–12.5%) indicate that these products can be used in existing combustion equipment. Preliminary analysis of the obtained ashes (determination of ash melting point, bulk density) indicates that they should not cause difficulties in ash removal systems from the combustion chamber

ARNI in HFrEF—One-Centre Experience in the Era before the 2021 ESC HF Recommendations

Background: Sacubitril/valsartan, an angiotensin receptor–neprilysin inhibitor (ARNI), has demonstrated a survival benefit and reduces heart failure hospitalization in patients with heart failure with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (HFrEF); however, our experience in this field is limited. This study aimed to summarize a real clinical practice of the use of ARNI in HFrEF patients hospitalized due to HFrEF in the era before the 2021 ESC HF recommendations, as well as assess their clinical outcome with regard to ARNI administration. Methods and Materials: Overall, 613 patients with HFrEF hospitalized in 2018–2020 were enrolled into a retrospective one-centre cross-sectional analysis. The study population was categorized into patients receiving (82/13.4%) and not-receiving (531/82.6%) ARNI. Clinical outcomes defined as rehospitalization, number of rehospitalizations, time to the first rehospitalization and death from any cause were analysed in the 1–2 year follow-up in the ARNI and non-ARNI groups, matched as to age and LVEF. Results: Clinical characteristics revealed the following differences between ARNI and non-ARNI groups: A higher percentage of cardiovascular implantable electronic devices (CIED) (p = 0.014) and defibrillators with cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT-D) (p = 0.038), higher frequency of atrial fibrillation (p = 0.002) and history of stroke (p = 0.024) were in the ARNI group. The percentage of patients with HFrEF NYHA III/IV presented an increasing trend to be higher in the ARNI (64.1%) as compared to the non-ARNI group (51.5%, p = 0.154). Incidence of rehospitalization, number of rehospitalizations and time to the first rehospitalization were comparable between the groups. There were no differences between the numbers of deaths of any cause in the ARNI (28%) and non-ARNI (28%) groups. The independent negative predictor of death in the whole population of ARNI and non-ARNI groups was the coexistence of coronary artery disease (CAD) (beta= −0.924, HR 0.806, p = 0.011). Conclusions: Our current positive experience in ARNI therapy is limited to extremely severe patients with HFrEF. Regardless of the more advanced HF and HF comorbidities, the patients treated with ARNI presented similar mortality and rehospitalizations as the patients treated by standard therapy

Photonic sorting of aligned, crystalline carbon nanotube textiles

Floating catalyst chemical vapor deposition uniquely generates aligned carbon nanotube (CNT) textiles with individual CNT lengths magnitudes longer than competing processes, though hindered by impurities and intrinsic/extrinsic defects. We present a photonic-based post-process, particularly suited for these textiles, that selectively removes defective CNTs and other carbons not forming a threshold thermal pathway. In this method, a large diameter laser beam rasters across the surface of a partly aligned CNT textile in air, suspended from its ends. This results in brilliant, localized oxidation, where remaining material is an optically transparent film comprised of few-walled CNTs with profound and unique improvement in microstructure alignment and crystallinity. Raman spectroscopy shows substantial D peak suppression while preserving radial breathing modes. This increases the undoped, specific electrical conductivity at least an order of magnitude to beyond that of single-crystal graphite. Cryogenic conductivity measurements indicate intrinsic transport enhancement, opposed to simply removing nonconductive carbons/residual catalyst