Processing and Performance of Polymeric Transparent Conductive Composites

Recent advances in microelectronic and optoelectronic industries have spurred interest in the development of reticulate doped polymer films containing “metallic” charge transfer complexes. In this study, such reticulate doped polymer films were prepared by exposing solid solutions of bis(ethylenedioxy) tetrathiafulvalene (BEDO-TTF) in polycarbonate (PC) to iodine, forming conductive charge transfer complexes. The resulting films exhibited room temperature conductivities ranging from 6.33 to  S    cm−1. The colored iodine complexes in the film were reduced by cyclic voltammetry yielding conductive, colorless, transparent films. We were intrigued to examine the dielectric properties of BEDO-TTF in solid solution in PC prior to formation of the charge transfer complex as no such studies appear in the literature. Dielectric analysis (DEA) was used to probe relaxations in neat PC and BEDO-TTF/PC. BEDO-TTF plasticized the PC and decreased the glass transition temperature. Two secondary relaxations appeared in PC films, whereas the transitions merged in the BEDO-TTF/PC film. DEA also evidenced conductivity relaxations above 180°C which are characterized via electric modulus formalism and revealed that BEDO-TTF increased AC conductivity in PC

Mobile health technology (mDiab) for the prevention of type 2 diabetes: protocol for a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of type 2 diabetes is increasing in epidemic proportions in low- and middle-income countries. There is an urgent need for novel methods to tackle the increasing incidence of diabetes. The ubiquity of mobile phone use and access to Internet makes mobile health (mHealth) technology a viable tool to prevent and manage diabetes. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this randomized controlled trial is to implement and evaluate the feasibility, cost-effectiveness, and sustainability of a reality television-based lifestyle intervention program. This intervention program is delivered via a mobile phone app (mDiab) to approximately 1500 Android smartphone users who are adults at a high risk for type 2 diabetes from three cities in India, namely, Chennai, Bengaluru, and New Delhi. METHODS: The mDiab intervention would be delivered via a mobile phone app along with weekly coach calls for 12 weeks. Each participant will go through a maintenance phase of 6 to 8 months post intervention. Overall, there would be 3 testing time points in the study: baseline, post intervention, and the end of follow-up. The app will enable individuals to track their weight, physical activity, and diet alongside weekly video lessons on type 2 diabetes prevention. RESULTS: The study outcomes are weight loss (primary measure of effectiveness); improvement in cardiometabolic risk factors (ie, waist circumference, blood pressure, glucose, insulin, and lipids); and improvement in physical activity, quality of life, and dietary habits. Sustainability will be assessed through focus group discussions. CONCLUSIONS: If successful, mDiab can be used as a model for translational and implementation research in the use of mHealth technology for diabetes prevention and may be further expanded for the prevention of other noncommunicable diseases such as hypertension and cardiovascular diseases. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinical Trials Registry of India CTRI/2015/07/006011 http://ctri.nic.in/Clinicaltrials/pdf_generate.php? trialid=11841 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/6urCS5kMB)

Investigation and characterization of Pt-modified Au catalysts and polymer composites by electrochemistry, Raman and surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS)

This dissertation thesis consists of six chapters. The main focus of this study is the need for understanding the reaction mechanism and intermediates formed on Pt-modified Au surface as anode catalysts in the formic acid fuel cells. Chapter 1 gives an introduction to formic acid and methanol fuel cells, an overview of the current catalysts employed at the anode of the fuel cells, specifically the Pt-modified Au electrodes as potential catalysts and the different deposition methods for preparing this catalytic surface. Information about different electrochemical methods used like cyclic voltammetry and potential step method along with other characterization methods and spectroscopic techniques has also been given. As one of the main methods to characterize the catalysts, Raman and surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy have been discussed in detail. The electrooxidation of formic acid and the nature of the intermediates at a platinum-modified gold surface prepared through spontaneous deposition were characterized using a combination of electrochemistry and in situ surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). Spontaneously deposited platinum on gold showed unique high catalytic activity for formic acid electrooxidation. The oxidation current of formic acid is more than five times higher on the Pt-modified gold electrode surface than on a bare Pt surface and about 72 times higher than on a bare Au surface. SERS results reveal the involvement of a novel HCOO− adsorbate at 300 cm−1. Both electrochemical and spectroscopic results suggest that the formic acid electrooxidation takes place by the dehydrogenation pathway involving a low frequency formate intermediate on the Pt-modified gold electrode catalyst. Next, the effect of the deposition solution employed in the spontaneous deposition process was explored and demonstrated to play an important role in catalytic activity of these surfaces. Electrochemical studies show that Pt-modified Au surfaces prepared from bromoplatinate solution are most active in oxidizing formic acid. The second most active surface for formic acid electrooxidation was that from chloroplatinate followed by that from the iodoplatinate solutions. Also, the optimal condition to prepare the most active surface is different for various haloplatinate solutions. In situ surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) with potential control revealed the presence of formate at 300 cm-1 as the reaction intermediate in the catalytic processes on all three Pt-modified Au surfaces, but with different potential-dependent behaviors. A clear and transparent bis ethylenedioxy tetrathiafulvalene iodine doped polymer films (BEDO-TTF) was successfully prepared by electrochemical method of cyclic voltammetry. The formation of the transparent films has been linked to the reduction of the iodine species in the film to iodide species giving rise to colorless films. Furthermore, Raman studies have revealed the presence of different iodide species like triodide, pentaiodide and iodine when anodic and cathodic potentials were applied to the films. Also, it was seen that the iodine was complexed with the BEDO-TTF polymer in a stoichiometry of 2.4: 3 [(BEDO-TTF) 2.4I3] at certain concentration in the doping technique. Raman studies were also conducted on single walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) to study the defects introduced during the ball milling procedure and Ru doping. The Raman results reveal that both ball milling procedure and Ru doping leads to the formation of more defects and carbonaceous species in the SWCNTs. Thus, both electrochemical and Raman method were demonstrated to characterize the composition and properties of various materials including conducting polymer and carbon nanotube

Mobile health technology in the prevention and management of Type 2 diabetes

Essential steps in diabetes prevention and management include translating research into the real world, improving access to health care, empowering the community, collaborative efforts involving physicians, diabetes educators, nurses, and public health scientists, and access to diabetes prevention and management efforts. Mobile phone technology has shown wide acceptance across various ages and socioeconomic groups and offers several opportunities in health care including self-management as well as prevention of Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The future seems to lie in mobile health (mHealth) applications that can use embedded technology to showcase advanced uses of a smartphone to help with prevention and management of chronic disorders such as T2DM. This article presents a narrative review of the mHealth technologies used for the prevention and management of T2DM. Majority (48%) of the studies used short message service (SMS) technology as their intervention while some studies (29%) incorporated applications for medication reminders and insulin optimization for T2DM management. Few studies (23%) showed that, along with mHealth technology, health-care professionals\u27 support resulted in added positive outcomes for the patients. This review highlights the fact that an mHealth intervention need not be restricted to SMS alone

Processing and Performance of Polymeric Transparent Conductive Composites

Recent advances in microelectronic and optoelectronic industries have spurred interest in the development of reticulate doped polymer films containing “metallic” charge transfer complexes. In this study, such reticulate doped polymer films were prepared by exposing solid solutions of bis(ethylenedioxy) tetrathiafulvalene (BEDO-TTF) in polycarbonate (PC) to iodine, forming conductive charge transfer complexes. The resulting films exhibited room temperature conductivities ranging from 6.33 to  S    cm−1. The colored iodine complexes in the film were reduced by cyclic voltammetry yielding conductive, colorless, transparent films. We were intrigued to examine the dielectric properties of BEDO-TTF in solid solution in PC prior to formation of the charge transfer complex as no such studies appear in the literature. Dielectric analysis (DEA) was used to probe relaxations in neat PC and BEDO-TTF/PC. BEDO-TTF plasticized the PC and decreased the glass transition temperature. Two secondary relaxations appeared in PC films, whereas the transitions merged in the BEDO-TTF/PC film. DEA also evidenced conductivity relaxations above 180°C which are characterized via electric modulus formalism and revealed that BEDO-TTF increased AC conductivity in PC

Change in cardiometabolic risk factors among Asian Indian adults recruited in a mHealth-based diabetes prevention trial

OBJECTIVE: India is experiencing an increasing prevalence of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Mobile health technology may be a strategy to reduce the risk of cardiometabolic disorders. This paper reports on the effect of a mobile health intervention on cardiometabolic risk factors. METHODS: The mobile health and diabetes intervention was a 12-week reality television-based mobile health program application delivered via videos, short message service and infographics through a smartphone application followed-up weekly by health coach calls. mobile health and diabetes was conducted in a randomized control trial mode randomized controlled trial methodology in three Indian cities (Chennai, Bengaluru and New Delhi) with participants recruited via community screening events. This paper looks at the pre–post changes in cardiometabolic risks among the participants and the place of demography in influencing these. RESULTS: The mobile health and diabetes intervention group experienced a small reduction in waist circumference (1.8 cm) compared to the control group (0.5 cm, p < 0.05) and a greater decrease in systolic blood pressure (2.7 mmHg) compared to the control group (p < 0.05). The improvements in cardiometabolic risk factors were more pronounced in individuals with obesity, although overall effects were very modest CONCLUSIONS: Cardiometabolic risk factors can be reduced with a mobile health application using human coaching, especially in obese individuals, but the improvements are small. To be more effective and clinically meaningful, intensive engagement with the participants is probably required