Barium titanate‐based nanodielectrics of two chemically recyclable thermosets

In this work was investigated the effect of the addition of barium titanate (BaTiO₃) on electrical properties of two chemically recyclable thermosets, polyhemiaminal (PHA) and polyhexahydro‐s‐triazine (PHT), both fabricated from 4,4′‐oxydianiline (ODA), an ether derivative of aniline and paraformaldehyde. Thermal and mechanical properties as well as chemical recyclability of the two polymers and their nanocomposites/nanodielectrics were also investigated. In addition, a quantitative analysis was conducted of the nanoparticle dispersion in the PHA‐/PHT‐based BaTiO₃‐containing nanocomposites using transmission electron microscopy imaging and the nearest‐neighbor distance index and this index was used to analyze the investigated properties in connection with the proper mechanisms. Regarding the electrical properties for both neat polymers, conductivity values of the order of 10^?8 S m^?1 at 100 Hz were observed and dielectric constant values close to 2.80 for both polymers at 1 kHz. The addition of 0.5 wt% of BaTiO₃ ferroelectric nanoparticles increased by about 44% the dielectric constant (1 kHz) and conductivity (10² Hz) of the PHA‐based nanocomposite. PHA and PHT exhibited glass transition temperature (T_g) values in the range 125–180 °C. An increase of 7 °C in T_g was observed after the incorporation of 0.5 wt% of BaTiO₃ into PHA. Concerning the mechanical properties, values in the range 4.00–4.45 GPa for reduced modulus and 0.30–0.43 GPa for nanohardness for PHA and PHT polymers were observed. Independently of filler content or polymer matrix, both mechanical properties were enhanced after the addition of BaTiO₃. The chemical recycling of PHA/PHT and all nanocomposites in the initial ODA reagent after sulfuric acid treatment was successfully characterized using the NMR and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic techniques. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry     

Monolithically-integrated BiVO4/p+-n GaAs1-xPx tandem photoanodes capable of unassisted solar water splitting

Monolithically-integrated tandem photoanodes were fabricated on substrates consisting of epitaxial n-GaAs_1-xP_x (x ? 0.32) grown on n⁺-GaAs wafers. A p⁺-n junction photovoltaic (PV) cell was first formed by zinc diffusion into the n-GaAs_0.68P_0.32 from a deposited ZnO coating. After diffusion the ZnO serves as a transparent electrical contact to the resulting p⁺-GaAs_0.68P_0.32 surface layer. Transparent, conducting SnO₂:F provides chemical and mechanical protection for the ZnO and the underlying PV cell, and it electrically connects this cell to a top BiVO₄ photocatalyst layer. In some photoanodes, a WO₃ thin film was interposed between the SnO₂:F and BiVO₄. All oxide coatings were produced by ultrasonic spray pyrolysis except WO₃, which was spin coated. Unassisted (unbiased) solar water splitting was achieved, with a solar-to-hydrogen efficiency approaching 2%, without addition of any co-catalyst to the BiVO₄ surface. This work can provide insights to other researchers regarding scalable, low cost approaches for the planar monolithic integration of oxide photoanode materials with PV cells to create new tandem devices.     

Smooth muscle of the bladder in the normal and the diseased state: pathophysiology, diagnosis and treatment

The smooth muscle of the normal bladder wall must have some specific properties. It must be very compliant and able to reorganise itself during filling and emptying to accommodate the change in volume without generating any intravesical pressure, but whilst maintaining the normal shape of the bladder. It must be capable of synchronous activation to generate intravesical pressure at any length to allow voiding. The cells achieve this through spontaneous electrical activity combined with poor electrical coupling between cells, and a dense excitatory innervation. In the diseased state, alterations of the smooth muscle may lead to failure to store or failure to empty properly. The diseased states discussed are bladder instability and diabetic neuropathy. Bladder instability is characterised urodynamically by uninhibitable rises in pressure during filling, and is seen idiopathically and in association with bladder outflow obstruction and neuropathy. In diabetic neuropathy, many of the smooth muscle changes are a consequence of diuresis, but there is evidence for alterations in the sensory arm of the micturition reflex. In the unstable bladder, additional alterations of the smooth muscle are seen, which are probably caused by the patchy denervation that occurs. The causes of this denervation are not fully established. Nonsurgical treatment of instability is not yet satisfactory; neuromodulation has some promise, but is expensive, and the mechanisms poorly understood. Pharmacological treatment is largely through muscarinic receptor blockade. Drugs to reduce the excitability of the smooth muscle are being sought, since they may represent a better pharmacological option.     

Risk factors for a medically inappropriate admission to a Department of Internal Medicine

OBJECTIVE: To identify patient- and admission-related risk factors for a medically inappropriate admission to a department of internal medicine. METHODS: Cross-sectional study of a systematic sample of 500 admissions to the department of internal medicine of an urban teaching hospital. The appropriateness of each admission and reasons for inappropriate admissions were assessed using the Appropriateness Evaluation Protocol. Risk factors included the time (day of week and holidays) and manner (through emergency department or direct admission) of admission, patient age and sex, health status of patient and spouse, living arrangements, formal home care services, and informal support from family or friends. RESULTS: Overall, 76 (15.2%) hospital admissions were rated as medically inappropriate by the Appropriateness Evaluation Protocol. In multivariate analysis, the likelihood of an inappropriate admission was increased by better physical functioning of the patient (odds ratio [OR], 1.5; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.1-2.1 [for 1 SD in Physical Functioning scores]), lower mental health status of the patient's spouse (OR, 2.6; 95% CI, 1.3-5.6), receipt of informal help from family or friends (OR, 3.3; 95% CI, 1.5-7.2), and hospitalization by one's physician (OR, 3.6; 95% CI, 1.7-7.5). Receiving formal adult home care was not associated with inappropriateness of hospitalization. CONCLUSIONS: Inappropriate admissions to internal medicine wards are determined by a mix of factors, including the patient's health and social environment. In addition, the private practitioners' discretionary ability to hospitalize their patients directly may also favor medically inappropriate admissions.     

Determination of total non-sulphonated aromatic amines in tartrazine, sunset yellow FCF and allura red by reduction and derivatization followed by high-performance liquid chromatography.

Free and bound non-sulphonated aromatic amines (NSAA) are determined in the food colours tartrazine, sunset yellow FCF and allura red. After reduction of the bound amines with sodium dithionite, the NSAA are extracted into chloroform, then transferred to aqueous acid solution, diazotized with sodium nitrite and coupled with 2-naphthol-3,6-disulphonic acid, disodium salt (R-salt). Reversed-phase ion-pair liquid chromatography and an absorbance detector at 512 nm are used to analyse the coloured derivatives. Samples of dyes were spiked with known amounts of aniline, 1-naphthylamine, 2- and 4-aminobiphenyl, 4-aminoazobenzene, benzidine, p-cresidine or 4-nitro-p-cresidine bound to R-salt. Recoveries averaged 90% in tartrazine, 65% in sunset yellow FCF and 71% in allura red. Detection limits ranged between 2 and 32 ng/g. A survey of 24 commercial samples revealed levels up to 520 micrograms/g total NSAA. The majority of NSAA are bound to the coupling compound during the manufacturing process and less than 7% remain as free amines in the dye.     

Salt-water up-coning during extraction of fresh water from a tropical island

Rainwater can collect in a lens-shaped region within the rock of a tropical island, and may be separated from the underlying salt water by a sharp interface. This paper presents a nonlinear theory for determining the shape of this interface. The island is assumed to be saturated with rain, and provision is made for the outflow of rain-water through the sides of the island. The effect of a bore well on the shape of the interface is investigated, and the problem is solved using a spectral method. An integral-equation method is also presented for the case when the island has infinite width.     

Implementation of a mechanics-based system for estimating the strength of timber

The most accurate way of determining the strength of lumber requires destructive testing. An intelligent mechanics-based lumber-grading system was developed to provide a better estimation of the strength of a board nondestructively. This system processed X-ray-extracted geometric features (of 1080 boards that eventually underwent destructive strength testing) by using finite element methods to generate associated stress fields. The stress fields were then fed to a feature-extracting-processor, which produced 26 strength predicting features. The best strength predicting features were determined from the coefficient of determination (correlation r/sup 2/) between the features and actual strengths of the boards. The coefficients of determination of each feature (or combination of features), with the actual strength of the board, were calculated and compared. A coefficient of determination of 0.4158 was achieved by using a longitudinal (along the local grain angle) maximum stress concentration (MSC) feature to predict the estimated strength of lumber.     

Neurophysiological Model of the Normal and Abnormal Human Pupil

A model of the pathways controlling the size of the human pupil is presented. Computer simulation of this model demonstrates the role played by each of the elements in the pupil pathways. Simulations of the effects of drugs and a few common abnormalities in the system also help to illustrate the workings of the internal processes. Computer models of this type can be used as teaching aids or as tools for testing of hypotheses regarding the system.