Thermochromic Conductive Fibers with Modifiable Solar Absorption for Personal Thermal Management and Temperature Visualization

Thermal management textiles provide an energy-efficient strategy for personal thermal comfort by regulating heat flow between the human body and the environment. However, textiles with a single heating or cooling mode cannot realize temperature regulation under dynamic weather. Furthermore, monocolor textiles do not satisfy aesthetic requirements in a garment. Here, we develop a thermochromic (TC) conductive fiber with a coaxial structure composed of a conductive core and thermochromic shell. The TC conductive fiber-woven fabric has the ability of low-energy dynamic thermal management by combining Joule heating and modulation of solar absorption. Compared with commercial white fabrics, TC conductive fabrics exhibit a maximum temperature drop of 2.5 K, while the temperature of colored commercial fabrics is 7.5–16 K higher than that of commercial white fabrics in the hot. In the cold, the combination of Joule heating and the photothermal effect can provide desired thermal comfort for humans. Meanwhile, heat obtained from solar absorption brings the temperature of a fabric to a predetermined level, which saves energy of 625 W/m2 compared to a conductive-fiber-based textile. In addition, TC conductive fabrics with trichromatic evolution provide a sensitive and instant temperature visualization capable of identification of invisible and intense infrared radiation. These results provide another path to expand potential applications of wearable, flexible electronics

Thermochromic Conductive Fibers with Modifiable Solar Absorption for Personal Thermal Management and Temperature Visualization

Thermal management textiles provide an energy-efficient strategy for personal thermal comfort by regulating heat flow between the human body and the environment. However, textiles with a single heating or cooling mode cannot realize temperature regulation under dynamic weather. Furthermore, monocolor textiles do not satisfy aesthetic requirements in a garment. Here, we develop a thermochromic (TC) conductive fiber with a coaxial structure composed of a conductive core and thermochromic shell. The TC conductive fiber-woven fabric has the ability of low-energy dynamic thermal management by combining Joule heating and modulation of solar absorption. Compared with commercial white fabrics, TC conductive fabrics exhibit a maximum temperature drop of 2.5 K, while the temperature of colored commercial fabrics is 7.5–16 K higher than that of commercial white fabrics in the hot. In the cold, the combination of Joule heating and the photothermal effect can provide desired thermal comfort for humans. Meanwhile, heat obtained from solar absorption brings the temperature of a fabric to a predetermined level, which saves energy of 625 W/m2 compared to a conductive-fiber-based textile. In addition, TC conductive fabrics with trichromatic evolution provide a sensitive and instant temperature visualization capable of identification of invisible and intense infrared radiation. These results provide another path to expand potential applications of wearable, flexible electronics

Thermochromic Conductive Fibers with Modifiable Solar Absorption for Personal Thermal Management and Temperature Visualization

Thermal management textiles provide an energy-efficient strategy for personal thermal comfort by regulating heat flow between the human body and the environment. However, textiles with a single heating or cooling mode cannot realize temperature regulation under dynamic weather. Furthermore, monocolor textiles do not satisfy aesthetic requirements in a garment. Here, we develop a thermochromic (TC) conductive fiber with a coaxial structure composed of a conductive core and thermochromic shell. The TC conductive fiber-woven fabric has the ability of low-energy dynamic thermal management by combining Joule heating and modulation of solar absorption. Compared with commercial white fabrics, TC conductive fabrics exhibit a maximum temperature drop of 2.5 K, while the temperature of colored commercial fabrics is 7.5–16 K higher than that of commercial white fabrics in the hot. In the cold, the combination of Joule heating and the photothermal effect can provide desired thermal comfort for humans. Meanwhile, heat obtained from solar absorption brings the temperature of a fabric to a predetermined level, which saves energy of 625 W/m2 compared to a conductive-fiber-based textile. In addition, TC conductive fabrics with trichromatic evolution provide a sensitive and instant temperature visualization capable of identification of invisible and intense infrared radiation. These results provide another path to expand potential applications of wearable, flexible electronics

Effects of NAM and Sirtinol on cortical granule-free domain (CGFD) formation in porcine oocytes.

<p>In the control group, cortical granules (CGs) were absent at the cortex near the site of polar body extrusion in MI oocyte. However, in the treatment group, cortical granules were distributed uniformly across the entire cortex. CGFD formation was failed to observation. The arrow indicates a CGFD. Green, CGs; blue, chromatin. Bar = 20 μm.</p

Extraordinarily High Conductivity of Stretchable Fibers of Polyurethane and Silver Nanoflowers

Stretchable conductive composites have received considerable attention recently, and they should have high conductivity and mechanical strength. Here we report highly conductive stretchable fibers synthesized by the scalable wet spinning process using flower-shaped silver nanoparticles with nanodisc-shaped petals (Ag nanoflowers) and polyurethane. An extraordinarily high conductivity (41 245 S cm^–1) was obtained by Ag nanoflowers, which is 2 orders of magnitude greater than that of fibers synthesized using spherical Ag nanoparticles. This was due to the enhanced surface area and vigorous coalescence of nanodisc-shaped petals during the curing process. There was a trade-off relationship between conductivity and stretchability, and the maximum rupture strain was 776%. An analytical model revealed that the enhanced adhesion between Ag nanoflowers and polyurethane provided a high Young’s modulus (731.5 MPa) and ultimate strength (39.6 MPa) of the fibers. The fibers exhibited an elastic property after prestretching, and the resistance change of weft-knitted fabric was negligible up to 200% strain. The fibers with extraordinarily high conductivity, stretchability, and mechanical strength may be useful for wearable electronics applications

NAM and Sirtinol treatment disrupts actin cap formation.

<p>(A) Actin signals in the oocytes were examined by immunofluorescence staining. Oocytes treated with NAM and Sirtinol exhibited profoundly decreased actin fluorescence intensity. Bar = 20 μm (B) Actin fluorescence intensity at the membrane in porcine oocytes. The signal intensity of ROI of actin was the entire area of the oocyte membrane. Compared to control oocytes, actin fluorescence intensity was significantly decreased in inhibitor-treated oocytes. *significant, <i>p</i> < 0.05.</p

NAM and Sirtinol treatment disrupts actin cap formation.

<p>(A) Actin signals in the oocytes were examined by immunofluorescence staining. Oocytes treated with NAM and Sirtinol exhibited profoundly decreased actin fluorescence intensity. Bar = 20 μm (B) Actin fluorescence intensity at the membrane in porcine oocytes. The signal intensity of ROI of actin was the entire area of the oocyte membrane. Compared to control oocytes, actin fluorescence intensity was significantly decreased in inhibitor-treated oocytes. *significant, <i>p</i> < 0.05.</p

Treatment with nicotinamide (NAM) and Sirtinol affects meiotic maturation in porcine oocytes.

<p>(A) In cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs), the peripheral layer of the cumulus expanded to more than 5 layers in the control group, whereas it became progressively thinner in the NAM- and Sirtinol-treated COCs. Most oocytes in the control group extruded the first polar body (indicated by white arrow). Upon treatment with NAM and Sirtinol, a large proportion of oocytes failed to extrude polar bodies. Bar = 100 μm. (B) Rate of polar body extrusion in the control, NAM-, and Sirtinol-treated groups. Rate of polar body extrusion in treatment groups was significantly reduced comparing to control group. *, significant, <i>p</i> < 0.05.</p

Treatment with NAM and Sirtinol induces meiotic defects in porcine oocytes.

<p>(A) Meiotic spindle morphology in second meiosis (MII) oocytes. Control oocytes had barrel-shaped spindles and well aligned chromosomes, whereas spindle defects were frequently observed in NAM and Sirtinol-treated oocytes. Moreover, chromosomes displayed misalignment in treatment oocytes. Green, Tubulin; blue, chromatin. Bar = 20μm (B) Quantification of spindle defects and chromosome misalignment in control and inhibitor-treated oocytes. The percentage of abnormal spindle morphology was significant higher in the NAM- and Sirtinol-treated oocytes than in the control oocytes. *, significant, <i>p</i> < 0.05.</p

The toxic effects and possible mechanisms of Brusatol on mouse oocytes

<div><p>Brusatol is a natural quassinoid that shows a potential therapeutic use in cancer models by the inhibition of Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and is capable of inducing a variety of biological effects. The effects of Brusatol on oocyte meiosis has not been addressed. In this study, we investigated the impact of Brusatol treatment on mouse oocyte maturation and its possible mechanism. Our data demonstrated that Brusatol treatment disrupted oocyte maturation and spindle/chromosome organization by modulating Nrf2-Cyclin B1 pathway, as the influence of Brusatol was compensated by the addition of Nrf2 activation plasmid, and the mRNA and protein levels of Cyclin B1 were severely reduced in oocytes following Nrf2 decline. In summary, our data support a model that Brusatol, through the inhibition of Nrf2, modulate Cyclin B1 levels, consequently disturbing proper spindle assembly and chromosome condensation in meiotic oocytes.</p></div