Theoretical and experimental study of the orientational ordering in the field-induced intermediaite phase from the SmC*FI2 phase in chiral smectic liquid crystals

Under an electric field, chiral smectic liquid crystals transit usually to the unwound SmC* phase where the helical structure is completely unrolled. Sometimes the sample transits initially towards an intermediate polar state before the total destruction of the helix. Based on the extension of the H-T model, a theoretical study of these field-induced phase transitions was carried out. Two hypotheses of the dynamics that give rise to the appearance of the intermediate phase have been discussed. The results of a numerical analysis confirm the known experimental results; the intermediate phase has a three-layer periodicity structure

Chemical recycling of poly(ethylene terephthalate). Application to the synthesis of multiblock copolyesters

The chemical recycling of the poly(ethylene terephthalate), (PET), has been successfully carried out by glycolysis in the presence of bis (2-hydroxyethyl) terephthalate (BHET) resulting in the formation of hydroxytelechelic oligomers. These oligomers were then treated with carboxytelechelic poly(ε-caprolactone) oligomers of Mn = 2300 and Mn = 730 g•mol–1 molecular weight, in the absence or presence of the titanium tetrabutyloxide (Ti(OBu)4) as a catalyst to get multiblock copolyesters. The chemical structure of the synthesized copolyesters was investigated by size exclusion chromatography (SEC) and proton Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (1H NMR) spectroscopy. Moreover the differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was used to explore their thermal properties. The ester-ester interchange reaction was observed between the two oligopolyesters, was studied and discussed in detail

Atrial fibrillation, liver cirrhosis, thrombosis, and bleeding:A Danish population-based cohort study

OBJECTIVES: We examined the impact of liver cirrhosis on the risk of thromboembolic events and bleeding complications in patients with atrial fibrillation or flutter (AFF). METHODS: This population‐based cohort study used data from Danish health registries. We identified all patients with a first‐time diagnosis of AFF during 1995 to 2015, and followed them from their AFF diagnosis until the end of 2016. Patients were categorized according to the presence or absence of liver cirrhosis. We computed incidence rates per 1000 person‐years and hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) based on Cox regression analyses, adjusting for age, CHA(2)DS(2)VASc score, and Charlson Comorbidity Index score. RESULTS: We identified 273 225 patients with AFF. Of these, 1463 (0.54%) had liver cirrhosis. During 0 to 5 years of follow‐up, compared to patients without liver cirrhosis, patients with liver cirrhosis had higher incidence rates and hazards of ischemic stroke (29.7 vs 21.6; HR, 1.3; 95% CI, 1.1‐1.6), venous thromboembolism (9.2 vs 5.5; HR, 1.5; 95% CI, 1.2‐2.3), but not myocardial infarction (10.2 vs 11.2; HR, 0.9; 95% CI, 0.7–1.2). Patients with liver cirrhosis also had higher rates of hemorrhagic stroke (5.8 vs 3.3; HR, 1.7; 95% CI, 1.1‐2.6), subdural hemorrhage (5.3 vs 1.6; HR, 3.2; 95% CI, 2.1‐4.9), hemorrhage of the lung or urinary tract (24.6 vs 15.2; HR, 1.6; 95% CI, 1.3–2.0), and gastrointestinal hemorrhage (34.5 vs 10.4; HR, 3.3; 95% CI, 2.7–3.9). CONCLUSION: In patients with AFF, liver cirrhosis was associated with an elevated risk of ischemic stroke, venous thromboembolism, and all evaluated bleeding complications

Finite amplitude thermal convection with variable gravity

Finite amplitude thermal convection is studied in a horizontal layer of infinite Prandtl number fluid with a variable gravity. For the present study, gravity is restricted to vary quadratically with respect to the vertical variable. A perturbation technique based on a small parameter, which is a measure of the ratio of the vertical to horizontal dimensions of the convective cells, is employed to determine the finite amplitude steady solutions. These solutions are represented in terms of convective modes whose amplitudes can be either small or of order unity. Stability of these solutions is investigated with respect to three dimensional disturbances. A variable gravity function introduces two non-dimensional parameters. For certain range of values of these two parameters, double or triple cellular structure in the vertical direction can be realized. Hexagonal patterns are preferred for sufficiently small amplitude of convection, while square patterns can become dominant for larger values of the convective amplitude. Variable gravity can also affect significantly the wavelength of the cellular pattern and the onset condition of the convective motion

Elevated levels of interleukin-12/23p40 may serve as a potential indicator of dysfunctional heart rate variability in type 2 diabetes

BACKGROUND: Systemic inflammatory processes plausibly contribute to the development of cardiovascular complications, causing increased morbidity and mortality in type 2 diabetes. Circulating inflammatory markers, i.e., interleukin (IL)-6 and tumour necrosis factor-α, are associated with neurocardiac measures. We examined a broad panel of various inflammatory and inflammation-related serum markers to obtain more detailed insight into the possible neuro-immune interaction between cardiovascular regulation and systemic level of inflammation. METHODS: Serum samples from 100 participants with type 2 diabetes were analysed. Heart rate variability, cardiovascular autonomic reflex tests, and cardiac vagal tone tests were performed based on electrocardiographic readings. Data regarding covariates (demographic-, diabetes-, and cardiovascular risk factors) were registered. RESULTS: Increased serum levels of IL-12/IL-23p40 (p  < 0.01) and intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1 (p  < 0.007) were associated with diminished heart rate variability measures. After all adjustments, the associations between IL-12/23p40, SDANN and VLF persisted (p  = 0.001). Additionally, serum levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-C were associated with response to standing (p  = 0.005). DISCUSSION: The few but robust associations between neurocardiac regulation and serum markers found in this study suggest systemic changes in proinflammatory, endothelial, and lymphatic function, which collectively impacts the systemic cardiovascular function. Our results warrant further exploration of IL-12/IL-23p40, ICAM-1, and VEGF-C as possible cardiovascular biomarkers in T2D that may support future decisions regarding treatment strategies for improved patient care. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12933-021-01437-w

Assessing the challenges of global long-term mitigation scenarios

The implications of global mitigation to achieve different long-term temperature goals (LTTGs) can be investigated in integrated assessment models (IAMs), which provide a large number of outputs including technology deployment levels, economic costs, carbon prices, annual rates of decarbonisation, degree of global net negative emissions required, as well as utilisation levels for fossil fuel plants. All of these factors can be considered in detail when judging the real-world feasibility of the mitigation scenarios produced by these models. This study presents a model inter-comparison of three widely used IAMs (TIAM, MESSAGE and WITCH) to analyse multiple mitigation scenarios exploring a range of LTTGs and a range of constraints, including delayed mitigation action, limited end-use electrification and delayed deployment of carbon capture technologies. The scenario outputs across the three models are examined and discussed and a matrix of the different factors concerning scenario feasibility is presented