A Review of Polypropylene and Polypropylene/Inorganic Nanocomposites for HVDC Cable Insulation

Due to its excellent electrical and thermal performance, as well as satisfying the needs for developing the environmentally friendly and recyclable cable insulation material, polypropylene has caused widespread concern. Nanodoping can effectively improve the electrical, thermal and mechanical properties of polypropylene nanocomposites, which provides a new method to solve the problems in its application in HVDC cable insulation. This chapter introduces research achievements on polypropylene and polypropylene/inorganic nanocomposites, which states the effects of nanodoping on the electrical properties, such as space charge behaviors, electrical tree aging, breakdown strength, etc. thermal conductivity and mechanical properties of the polypropylene and its multi-blends. The aging mechanism under different conditions is also discussed. The analysis shows that the surface treatment of nanoparticles can reduce the aggregation of nanoparticles and strengthen the interface effect, thus improving the comprehensive properties of polypropylene nanocomposites. This chapter also summarized the feasibility and future development of the polypropylene and its nanocomposites application in the insulation of HVDC cables

Porous coordination polymers based on azamacrocyclic complex: syntheses, solvent-induced reversible crystal-to-crystal transformation and gas sorption properties

Fundamental Research Funds for National University; China University of Geosciences (Wuhan) [1210491B03]; College Students' Innovative Experiment Project of China [091049148, 111049116]Three microporous coordination polymers, [NiL](3)[(NiL)(H2O)(2)][(NiL)(TATAB)(2)](2)center dot 46H(2)O (1), [(NiL)(3)(TATAB)(2)]center dot 5DMF (2) and [(NiL)(3)(BTCMT)(2)]center dot DMF center dot 16H(2)O (3) (L = 1,3,6,9,11,14-hexaazatricyclo[12.2.1.1(6,9)]octadecane, H(3)TATAB = 4,4',4 ''-triazine-1,3,5-triyltriaminobenzoic acid and H3BTCMT = 4,4',4 ''-[1,3,5-benzenetriyltris(carbonylimino)]-trisbenzoic acid), were constructed from two tripodal carboxylic ligands and an azamacrocyclic complex. The solvent-mediated, reversible, crystal-to-crystal transformation between 1 and 2 was achieved by immersing the crystalline samples in the corresponding solvent (H2O or DMF). Furthermore, during the fast bidirectional transformation, solvatochromic behavior was observed and confirmed. The comparison between 2 and 3 indicates that the degree of 6(3) monolayer corrugation has a significant effect on the formation and porous stability of an overall 2D or 3D network. Both 2 and 3 consist of large solvent accessible voids, but only compound 3 possesses permanent porosity, as confirmed by gas adsorption measurements and X-ray powder diffraction. In particular, compound 3 shows a high selective adsorption for CO2

The Efficacy of Adalimumab as an Initial Treatment in Patients with Behçet’s Retinal Vasculitis

Background: No study has evaluated the effectiveness of Adalimumab (ADA) as first-line in treatment-naïve patients with retinal vasculitis due to Behçet’s Uveitis (BU).Objective: To compare the efficacy of ADA plus conventional therapy and conventional therapy alone as initial treatments in naïve BU patients characterized by retinal vasculitis.Methods: Medical records of BU patients characterized by retinal vasculitis treated with conventional therapy (CT, refers to glucocorticoid and immunosuppressive agents) alone or ADA plus conventional therapy with at least 6 months of follow-up between February 2015 and June 2020 were analyzed. Only patients who were first diagnosed with BU without previous systemic treatment were reviewed. The retinal vasculitis score based on fluorescein angiography (FA), best-corrected visual acuity, glucocorticoid-sparing effect, the number of relapses and ocular complications were evaluated.Results: A total of 45 patients (87 eyes) were included. Twenty-four patients (55.33%) in the CT group were treated with conventional therapy and 21 patients (46.67%) in the ADA group were treated with ADA plus conventional therapy. The inflammatory parameters improved in both groups. FA scores showed significantly greater improvement in ADA group than CT group (p < 0.001). The median number of relapses was significantly lower, and the duration of remission was longer in ADA group than CT group (p < 0.001). At the last visit, a significantly better BCVA improvement (p = 0.024), better inflammation control (anterior chamber inflammation p = 0.017 and vitritis p < 0.001) and lower daily glucocorticoid dosage (p = 0.005) were identified in patients received ADA therapy. In CT group, 1 patient suffered hepatitis B and tuberculosis, 1 had growth retardation, 1 patient had with osteoporosis, then followed by other mild AEs (mostly respiratory upper tract infections); while in ADA group, 1 patient experienced a mild pneumonia (n = 1) while milder AEs were represented mostly by respiratory upper tract infections followed by gastrointestinal discomfort.Conclusion: ADA plus conventional therapy achieved superiority over conventional therapy as initial treatment in naïve BU patients with retinal vasculitis

A strategic model of trust management in web services

This article examines trust and trust management in web services and proposes a multiagent model of trust relationship in web services. It lloks the heirarchial structure of trust managment in web services and proposes a strategic model of trust management in web services. The proposed approach in this article will facilitate research and development of trust management in e-commerce, webs services and social networking