A critical study of plastics sheet extrusion processes

This thesis was submitted for admission to Membership of The College of Technologists (MCT) and was awarded on 20/2/1961.This report is based on a programme of studies undertaken full time by the candidate over the period Qctober 1960 to February 1964 for admission to Membership of The College of Technologists (M.C.T.) The thesis was submitted in April 1964. The author was admitted to Membership of the College of Technologists on 13 July 1964. Later changed to Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry awarded by Brunel University on 25 November 1966.Most of the work was carried out at BX Plastics Ltd. At the Research & Decvelopment facility in Lawford Place, Manningtree and on the large scale using shop floor production equipment a the factory in Brantham.BX Plastics Ltd (Research and Development, Brantham, Essex, UK

Gel point in CNC dispersion from FT Rheology

A non-linear analysis via Fourier-Transform Rheology (FT-Rheology) and Large Ampli- tude Oscillatory Shear (LAOS) of cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) dispersions is presented. Dynamic frequency and strain sweep measure- ments were performed for different CNC con- centrations with various parameters (w , g ). The relevance of nonlinear material rheological pa- rameters on flow-field-CNC interactions are initially investigated. This preliminary analy- sis is mainly formed on the magnitude of the stress response nonlinearities. Dependence of concentration on phase transition in CNC while applying strain was investigated. A comparison between the linear viscoelastic dynamic moduli and nonlinearities a steep increase in nonlinear response around the gel point

Evaluating techniques for sampling stream crayfish (paranephrops planifrons)

We evaluated several capture and analysis techniques for estimating abundance and size structure of freshwater crayfish (Paranephrops planifrons) (koura) from a forested North Island, New Zealand stream to provide a methodological basis for future population studies. Direct observation at night and collecting with baited traps were not considered useful. A quadrat sampler was highly biased toward collecting small individuals. Handnetting at night and estimating abundances using the depletion method were not as efficient as handnetting on different dates and analysing by a mark-recapture technique. Electrofishing was effective in collecting koura from different habitats and resulted in the highest abundance estimates, and mark-recapture estimates appeared to be more precise than depletion estimates, especially if multiple recaptures were made. Handnetting captured more large crayfish relative to electrofishing or the quadrat sampler

Spatiotemporal perspectives on urban energy transitions: a comparative study of three cities in China

This paper develops an integrated framework to study the socio-spatial and temporal dimensions of urban energy transitions to investigate the development and spread of solar energy technologies in urban China. A comparative analysis of three case studies of solar energy transitions in the cities of Foshan (in Guangdong), Rizhao (in Shandong), and Wuxi (in Jiangsu) demonstrates the framework’s applicability. The results map each city’s trajectory towards low carbon energy. Transitions result from dynamic interactions among central and local governments, solar manufacturers, solar installers, and residents. Alongside industrial strategies, locally-specific factors have a determining influence on the eventual outcomes

Phase transitions of cellulose nanocrystal suspensions from nonlinear oscillatory shear

Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) self- assemble in water suspensions into liquid crystalline assemblies. Here, we elucidate the microstructural changes associated with nonlinear deformations in (2–9 wt%) CNC suspensions through nonlinear rheological analysis, that was performed in paral- lel with coupled rheology—polarized light imaging. We show that nonlinear material parameters from Fourier-transform rheology and stress decomposition are sensitive to all CNC phases investigated, i.e. iso- tropic, biphasic and liquid crystalline. This is in con- trast to steady shear and linear viscoelastic dynamic moduli where the three-region behavior and weak strain overshoot cannot distinguish between biphasic and liquid crystalline phases. Thus, the inter-cycle and intra-cycle nonlinear parameters investigated are a more sensitive approach to relate rheological meas- urements to CNC phase behavior

Isotropic Gels of Cellulose Nanocrystals Grafted with Dialkyl Groups: Influence of Surface Group Topology from Nonlinear Oscillatory Shear

Attractive (non-self-assembling) aqueous cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) suspensions were topologically tailored into isotropic gels through the surface grafting of dialkyl groups. We thus focus on the influence of CNC concentration, including for pristine CNC, surface linker branching, branching degree, and the influence of side group size and branch-on-branch surface-grafted groups. The resulting mobility and strength of interaction in particle-particle interaction mediated by the surface groups was investigated from a rheological point of view. The emphasis is on nonlinear material parameters from Fourier-transform rheology and stress decomposition analysis. The results show that nonlinear material parameters are more sensitive than linear viscoelastic parameters to the onset of weakly interconnected networks in pristine CNC isotropic suspensions. All surface-modified CNC suspensions resulted in isotropic gels. The nonlinear material parameters were found to be broadly sensitive to CNC concentration, branching, degree of branching and surface-grafted linkers’ length. However, the length of the grafted chains and the degree of branching were the primary factors influencing the nonlinear material response. Furthermore, the results showed evidence of two strain amplitude ranges with distinct nonlinear signatures that could be attributed to the disruption of weak network connection points and to distortions of more dense (aggregate) network regions, respectively

Assessing an online patient decision aid about upper extremity reconstructive surgery for cervical spinal cord injury: Pilot testing knowledge, decisional conflict, and acceptability

UNLABELLED: HIGHLIGHTS: People with cervical spinal cord injury prioritize gaining upper extremity function after injury, but few individuals receive information about treatment options.A newly created patient decision aid (PtDA) provides information about recovery after spinal cord injury and the role of traditional tendon and newer nerve transfer surgery to improve upper extremity upper extremity function.The PtDA improved knowledge and decreased decisional conflict in this pilot study.Future work should focus on studying dissemination and implementation of the ptDA into clinical practice

Comparison of a reduced carbohydrate and reduced fat diet for LDL, HDL, and VLDL subclasses during 9-months of weight maintenance subsequent to weight loss

Objectives: This study compared LDL, HDL, and VLDL subclasses in overweight or obese adults consuming either a reduced carbohydrate (RC) or reduced fat (RF) weight maintenance diet for 9 months following significant weight loss. Methods: Thirty-five (21 RC; 14 RF) overweight or obese middle-aged adults completed a 1-year weight management clinic. Participants met weekly for the first six months and bi-weekly thereafter. Meetings included instruction for diet, physical activity, and behavior change related to weight management. Additionally, participants followed a liquid very low-energy diet of ~2092 kJ per day for the first three months of the study. Subsequently, participants followed a dietary plan for nine months that targeted a reduced percentage of carbohydrate (~20%) or fat (~30%) intake and an energy intake level calculated to maintain weight loss. Lipid subclasses using NMR spectroscopy were analyzed prior to weight loss and at multiple intervals during weight maintenance. Results: Body weight change was not significantly different within or between groups during weight maintenance (p > 0.05). The RC group showed significant increases in mean LDL size, large LDL, total HDL, large and small HDL, mean VLDL size, and large VLDL during weight maintenance while the RF group showed increases in total HDL, large and small HDL, total VLDL, and large, medium, and small VLDL (p 0.05). Conclusion: Some individual lipid subclasses improved in both dietary groups. Large and medium VLDL subclasses increased to a greater extent across weight maintenance in the RF group

Cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers of brain injury, inflammation and synaptic autoimmunity predict long-term neurocognitive outcome in herpes simplex encephalitis

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the correlation between biomarkers of brain injury and long-term neurocognitive outcome, and the interplay with intrathecal inflammation and neuronal autoimmunity, in patients with herpes simplex encephalitis (HSE). METHODS: A total of 53 adult/adolescent HSE patients were included from a prospective cohort in a randomized placebo-controlled trial investigating the effect of a 3-month follow-up treatment with valaciclovir. Study subjects underwent repeated serum/CSF sampling and brain MRI the first 3 months along with cognitive assessment by Mattis Dementia Rating Scale (MDRS) during 24 months. CSF samples were analyzed for biomarkers of brain injury, inflammation and synaptic autoimmunity. The pre-defined primary analysis was the correlation between peak CSF neurofilament protein (NFL), a biomarker of neuronal damage, and MDRS at 24 months. RESULTS: Impaired cognitive performance significantly correlated with NFL levels (rho = -0.36, p = 0.020). Development of IgG anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NDMAR) antibodies was associated with a broad and prolonged proinflammatory CSF response. In a linear regression model, lower MDRS at 24 months was associated with previous development of IgG anti-NMDAR (beta = -0.6249, p = 0.024) and age (z-score beta = -0.2784, p = 0.024), but not CSF NFL, which however significantly correlated with subsequent NMDAR autoimmunization (p = 0.006). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings show that NFL levels are predictive of long-term neurocognitive outcome in HSE, and suggest a causative chain of events where brain tissue damage increases the risk of NMDAR autoimmunisation and subsequent prolongation of CSF inflammation. The data provides guidance for a future intervention study of immunosuppressive therapy administered in the recovery phase of HSE