Emerging low-density polyethylene/paraffin wax/aluminum composite as a form-stable phase change thermal interface material

Thermal interface materials(TIMs) play a vital role in the thermal management of electronic devices and can significantly reduce thermal contact resistance(TCR). The TCR between the solid–liquid contact surface is much smaller than that of the solid–solid contact surface, but conventional solid–liquid phase change materials are likely to cause serious leakage. Therefore, this work has prepared a new formstable phase change thermal interface material. Through the melt blending of paraffin wax(PW) and low-density polyethylene(LDPE), the stability is improved and it has an excellent coating effect on PW. The addition of aluminum(Al) powder improves the low thermal conductivity of PW/LDPE, and the addition of 15wt% Al powder improves the thermal conductivity of the internal structure of the matrix by 67%. In addition, the influence of the addition of Al powder on the internal structure, thermal properties, and phase change behavior of the PW/LDPE matrix was systematically studied. The results confirmed that the addition of Al powder improved the thermal conductivity of the material without a significant impact on other properties, and the thermal conductivity increased with the increase of Al addition. Therefore, morphologically stable PW/LDPE/Al is an important development direction for TIMs.

Adsorption and Kinetic Study of Activated Carbon Produced from Post-Consumer Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE) Wastes

Post-consumer polymeric wastes in form of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) can now be considered suitable as a precursor for the synthesis of low-cost activated carbon (AC). This study produced AC from LDPE using sulphuric acid (H2SO4) and potassium hydroxide (KOH) as the activating agent. The reaction conditions for pyrolysis were varied in the range of 0.50 - 2.00 M, 400°C - 500°C, and 45 - 60 minutes. Physico-chemical investigations reveal that AC yield is significantly dependent on both carbonization temperatures and time. The obtained optimum values of 446.50°C and 51.09 mins gave a yield of 24% for the base-activated carbon. The high iodine numbers obtained strongly indicate the presence of large surface area and pore volumes is further confirmed using the Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) analysis which reveals the presence of pores on the external surface of the carbons. Fourier Transform Infrared Technique (FTIR) analysis further shows that the synthesized compounds are purely carbon with rich oxy-gen-surface complexes on the surface which is as a result of the introduction of the chemical oxidizing agents. The produced carbons were found to have high adsorption affinity for selected inorganic ions which are: Mn7+, Co2+, and Cr6+. Adsorption isotherm results show the adsorption process to be favourable with the Langmuir isotherm parameter RL having values of <1, while the Freudlich adsorption model was found to perfectly fit the data at selected adsorbent dosages and adsorbate concentrations. The pseu-do-second-order model provides the best correlation for the kinetic analysis. The acid-activated carbon was found to have better adsorption capacities than the base-activated carbon.

Preparation of Exfoliated Low-density Polyethylene/Montmorillonite Nanocomposites Through Melt Extrusion

The effects of ethylene vinyl acetate copelymer （EVA） as a compatibilizer on the dispersion of organically modified montmorillonite（org-MMT） into low-density polyethylene（LDPE） during melt extrusion compounding were studied. The X-ray diffraction patterns reveal that as compared with LDPE, EVA can intercalate more easily into the interlay gallery of org-MMT when the composites contain a low org-MMT content. Exfoliated LDPE/org-MMT nanocompesites in the presence of an EVA compatibilizer could be prepared by using a two-step melt compounding technique with a twin-screw extruder.

MORPHOLOGY AND PROPERTIES OF LINEAR LOW-DENSITY POLYETHYLENE HIGHLY LOADED WITH ALUMINUM HYDROXIDE

An experimental study was carried out to investigate the effects of isopropoxy tri(dioctyl pyrophosphoryl) titanate coupling agent on the mechanical performance, rheological property and microstructures of polyethylene highly loaded with aluminum hydroxide (Al(OH)(3)) composite, It was found that the addition of coupling agent results in reduced tensile strength and increased percentage elongation of the filled systems. Silane crosslinkable polyethylene substituting for polyethylene as matrix improves the tensile strength of the composite, while the percentage elongation of the composite still remains at a desired level. Melt viscosity of the composite will be improved by addition of titanate coupling agent. Microstructures of the composites were also studied by means of the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) technique. SEM micrographs reveal that finer dispersion of Al(OH)(3) will be obtained upon treatment of titanate and a transition from brittle to tough fracture takes place before and after silane crosslinking structure is introduced into polyethylene highly filled with Al(OH)(3) composite.

Supercritical CO2 Assisted Preparation of Open-cell Foams of Linear Low-density Polyethylene and Linear Low-density Polyethylene/Carbon Nanotube Composites

The open-cell structure foams of linear low-density polyethylene（LLDPE） and linear low-density polyethylene（LLDPE）/multi-wall carbon nanotubes（MWCNTs） composites are prepared by using supercritical carbon dioxide（sc-CO2）as a foaming agent. The effects of processing parameters（foaming temperature, saturation pressure, and depressurization rate） and the addition of MWCNTs on the evolution of cell opening are studied systematically. For LLDPE foaming, the foaming temperature and saturation pressure are two key factors for preparing open-cell foams. An increase in temperature and pressure promotes both the cell wall thinning and cell rupture, because a high temperature results in a decrease in the viscosity of the polymer, and a high pressure leads to a larger amount of cell nucleation. Moreover, for the given temperature and pressure, the high pressurization rate results in a high pressure gradient, favoring cell rupture. For LLDPE/MWCNTs foaming, the addition of MWCNTs not only promotes the cell heterogeneous nucleation, but also prevents the cell collapse during cell opening, which is critical to achieve the open-cell structures with small cell size and high cell density.

Sorption kinetics of parent and substituted PAHs for low-density polyethylene（LDPE）:Determining their partition coefficients between LDPE and water(KLDPE) for passive sampling

Low-density polyethylene(LDPE)has been widely used as a sorbent for passive sampling of hydrophobic organic contaminants(HOCs)in aquatic environments.However,it has seen only limited application in passive sampling for measurement of freely dissolved concentrations of parent and substituted PAHs(SPAHs),which are known to be toxic,mutagenic and carcinogenic.Here,the 16 priority PAHs and some typical PAHs were selected as target compounds and were simultaneously determined by gas chromatography–mass spectrometer(GC–MS).Some batch experiments were conducted in the laboratory to explore the adsorption kinetics of the target compounds in LDPE membranes.The results showed that both PAHs and SPAHs could reach equilibrium status within19–38 days in sorption kinetic experiments.The coefficients of partitioning between LDPE film(50μm thickness)and water(KLDPE)for the 16 priority PAHs were in good agreement with previously reported values,and the values of KLDPEfor the 9 SPAHs are reported in this study for the first time.Significant linear relationships were observed,i.e.,log KLDPE=0.705×log KOW+1.534 for PAHs(R^2=0.8361,p<0.001)and log KLDPE=0.458×log KOW+3.092 for SPAHs(R^2=0.5609,p=0.0077).The selected LDPE film was also proven to meet the condition of"zero sink"for the selected target compounds.These results could provide basic support for the configuration and in situ application of passive samplers.

Agglomeration of coal and polyethylene mixtures during fixed‑bed co‑gasification

The article presents the results of experimental studies on the gasification of mixtures of brown coal and polyethylene(up to 20 wt%fraction)in a laboratory reactor.The work aims to study the agglomeration process during the heating and oxidation of the mixtures.The measurement results(gas composition,pressure drop)provide indirect information on the dynamics of thermal decomposition and structural changes in the fuel bed.We have shown that the interaction between polyethylene and a coal surface leads to the formation of dense agglomerates,in which the molten polymer acts as a binder.Clinkers form as a result of interfacial interactions between components and filtration flow rearranging.The hydrogen/carbon ratio in the solid residue of coal-polyethylene co-gasification increases from 0.07–0.2 to 1.11,indicating the formation of stable hydrocarbon compounds on the carbon surface.The conducted research makes it possible to identify possible interactions between chemical reactions and transfer processes that lead to agglomeration in mixtures of coal with polyethylene.

Effect of temperature and time on the precipitation ofκ-carbides in Fe-28Mn-10Al-0.8C low-density steels:Aging mechanism and its impact on material properties

In low-density steel,κ-carbides primarily precipitate in the form of nanoscale particles within austenite grains.However,their precipitation within ferrite matrix grains has not been comprehensively explored,and the second-phase evolution mechanism during aging remains unclear.In this study,the crystallographic characteristics and morphological evolution ofκ-carbides in Fe-28Mn-10Al-0.8C(wt%)low-density steel at different aging temperatures and times and the impacts of these changes on the steels’microhardness and properties were comprehensively analyzed.Under different heat treatment conditions,intragranularκ-carbides exhibited various morpho-logical and crystallographic characteristics,such as acicular,spherical,and short rod-like shapes.At the initial stage of aging,acicularκ-carbides primarily precipitated,accompanied by a few spherical carbides.κ-Carbides grew and coarsened with aging time,the spherical carbides were considerably reduced,and rod-like carbides coarsened.Vickers hardness testing demonstrated that the material’s hardness was affected by the volume fraction,morphology,and size ofκ-carbides.Extended aging at higher temperatures led to an increase in carbide size and volume fraction,resulting in a gradual rise in hardness.During deformation,the primary mechanisms for strengthening were dislocation strengthening and second-phase strengthening.Based on these findings,potential strategies for improving material strength are proposed.

Low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 2(LRP2)is required for lipid export in the midgut of the migratory locust,Locusta migratoria

Low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 2(LRP2)is a multifunctional endocytic receptor expressed in epithelial cells.In mammals,it acts as an endocytic receptor that mediates the cellular uptake of cholesterol-containing apolipoproteins to maintain lipid homeostasis.However,little is known about the role of LRP2 in lipid homeostasis in insects.In the present study,we investigated the function of LRP2 in the migratory locust Locusta migratoria(LmLRP2).The mRNA of LmLRP2 is widely distributed in various tissues,including integument,wing pads,foregut,midgut,hindgut,Malpighian tubules and fat body,and the amounts of LmLRP2 transcripts decreased gradually in the early stages and then increased in the late stages before ecdysis during the nymphal developmental stage.Fluorescence immunohistochemistry revealed that the LmLRP2 protein is mainly located in cellular membranes of the midgut and hindgut.Using RNAi to silence LmLRP2 caused molting defects in nymphs(more than 60%),and the neutral lipid was found to accumulate in the midgut and surface of the integument,but not in the fat body,of dsLmLRP2-treated nymphs.The results of a lipidomics analysis showed that the main components of lipids(diglyceride and triglyceride)were significantly increased in the midgut,but decreased in the fat body and hemolymph.Furthermore,the content of total triglyceride was significantly increased in the midgut,but markedly decreased in the fat body and hemolymph in dsLmLRP2-injected nymphs.Our results indicate that LmLRP2 is located in the cellular membranes of midgut cells,and is required for lipid export from the midgut to the hemolymphand fat body in locusts.

Brønsted-acid sites induced photocatalytic cracking of low-polarity polyethylene plastics

Polyolefins such as polyethylene(PE)are one of the largest-scale synthetic plastics and play a key role in modern society.However,polyethylene is extremely inert to chemical recycling owing to its lack of chemical functionality and low polarity,making it one of the most challenging environmental hazards globally.Herein,we developed a phosphorylated CeO_(2)catalyst by an organophosphate precursor and featured efficient photocatalysis of low-density polyethylene(LDPE)without the acid or alkaline pre-treatment.Compared to pristine CeO_(2),the surface phosphorylation allows to introduce Brønsted acid sites,which facilitate to form carbonium ions on LDPE via protonation.In addition,the suitable band structure of the phosphorylated CeO_(2)catalyst enables efficient photoabsorption and generates reactive oxygen species,leading to the C–C bond cleavage of LDPE.As a result,the phosphorylated CeO_(2)catalyst exhibited an outstanding carbon conversion rate of>94%after 48 h of photocatalysis under 50 mW/cm^(2)of simulated sunlight,with a high CO_(2)product selectivity of>99%.Furthermore,the PE microparticles with sizes larger than 10μm released from LDPE plastic wrap were directly and completely degraded by photocatalysis within 12 h,suggesting an attractive and environmentally benign strategy of utilizing solar energy-based photocatalysis for reducing potential hazards of LDPE plastic trashes.

Molecular Dynamics-Based Simulation of Polyethylene Pipe Degradation in High Temperature and High Pressure Conditions

High-density polyethylene(HDPE)pipes have gradually become the first choice for gas networks because of their excellent characteristics.As the use of pipes increases,there will unavoidably be a significant amount of waste generated when the pipes cease their operation life,which,if improperly handled,might result in major environmental contamination issues.In this study,the thermal degradation of polyethylene materials is simulated for different pressures(10,50,100,and 150 MPa)and temperatures(2300,2500,2700,and 2900 K)in the framework of Reactive Force Field(ReaxFF)molecular dynamics simulation.The main gas products,density,energy,and the mean square displacement with temperature and pressure are also calculated.The findings indicate that raising the temperature leads to an increase in the production of gas products,while changing the pressure has an impact on the direction in which the products are generated;the faster the temperature drops,the less dense the air;both temperature and pressure increase impact the system’s energy conversion or distribution mechanism,changing the system’s potential energy as well as its total energy;the rate at which molecules diffuse increases with temperature,and decreases with pressure.The results of this investigation provide a theoretical basis for the development of the pyrolytic treatment of polyethylene waste materials.

Comparison between local-made and imported porous polyethylene orbital implant:a randomized controlled equivalence trial and multicenter study

AIM:To compare the exposure rate,infection rate,percentage of enhancement,and success rate between Medpor and the three-dimensional printed polyethylene(3DP-PE)orbital implant in a preliminary report.METHODS:This prospective,randomized,equivalence,controlled trial was conducted at two institutes.The equivalent margin was±10%.The sample size for the equivalence trial was 174 participants per group.Patients who were eligible for enucleations received either Medpor or 3DP-PE implants based on a randomized block of six.The surgeries were performed by five oculoplastic surgeons.The assessor and patients were masked.The magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)of the orbit was performed at least 6mo after operation and the fibrovascular ingrowth was analyzed using the Image J software.Follow-up continued at least 1y after surgery.The intention to treat and per protocol approaches were used.RESULTS:Totally 128 patients met the criteria in the report.Fifty Medpor and 553DP-PE cases completed the trial.The most common cause of blindness was trauma.The mean follow-up times of Medpor and 3DP-PE were 33 and 40mo respectively.The exposure rate was not statistically significant between two groups(6.0%and 7.3%),P<0.05,95%CI(-9.8%,+12.0%).The success rates were 94%(Medpor)and 92.7%(3DP-PE).No postoperative infection was reported.Nine patients had MRI tests and two had implant exposures with 66.3%enhancement at 75mo(Medpor)and 58%enhancement at 57mo(3DP-PE)postoperatively.CONCLUSION:There is no statistically significant difference in exposure rate and success rate between Medpor and 3DP-PE in enucleation in the report.However,we cannot conclude that they are equivalent in terms of the exposure rate and success rate because the 95%CI is wider than±10%.The infection rate is equivalent in both groups.

Vertically aligned montmorillonite aerogel-encapsulated polyethylene glycol with directional heat transfer paths for efficient solar thermal energy harvesting and storage

The conversion and storage of photothermal energy using phase change materials(PCMs)represent an optimal approach for harnessing clean and sustainable solar energy.Herein,we encapsulated polyethylene glycol(PEG)in montmorillonite aerogels(3D-Mt)through vacuum impregnation to prepare 3D-Mt/PEG composite PCMs.When used as a support matrix,3D-Mt can effectively prevent PEG leakage and act as a flame-retardant barrier to reduce the flammability of PEG.Simultaneously,3D-Mt/PEG demonstrates outstanding shape retention,increased thermal energy storage density,and commendable thermal and chemical stability.The phase transition enthalpy of 3D-Mt/PEG can reach 167.53 J/g and remains stable even after 50 heating-cooling cycles.Furthermore,the vertical sheet-like structure of 3D-Mt establishes directional heat transport channels,facilitating efficient phonon transfer.This configuration results in highly anisotropic thermal conductivities that ensure swift thermal responses and efficient heat conduction.This study addresses the shortcomings of PCMs,including the issues of leakage and inadequate flame retardancy.It achieves the development and design of 3D-Mt/PEG with ultrahigh strength,superior flame retardancy,and directional heat transfer.Therefore,this work offers a design strategy for the preparation of high-performance composite PCMs.The 3D-Mt/PEG with vertically aligned and well-ordered array structure developed in this research shows great potential for thermal management and photothermal conversion applications.

Detection of internal crack growth in polyethylene pipe using guided wave ultrasonic testing

Despite the success of guided wave ultrasonic inspection for internal defect detection in steel pipes,its application on polyethylene(PE)pipe remains relatively unexplored.The growth of internal cracks in PE pipe severely affects its pressure-holding capacity,hence the early detection of internal cracks is crucial for effective pipeline maintenance strategies.This study extends the scope of guided wave-based ultrasonic testing to detect the growth of internal cracks in a natural gas distribution PE pipe.Laboratory experiments and a finite element model were planned to study the wave-crack interaction at different stages of axially oriented internal crack growth with a piezoceramic transducer-based setup arranged in a pitch-catch configuration.Mode dispersion analysis supplemented with preliminary experiments was performed to isolate the optimal inspection frequency,leading to the selection of the T(0,1)mode at 50-kHz for the investigation.A transmission index based on the energy of the T(0,1)mode was developed to trace the extent of simulated crack growth.The findings revealed an inverse linear correlation between the transmission index and the crack depth for crack growth beyond 20%crack depth.

Efficient and selective removal of Pb(Ⅱ) from landfill leachate using L-serine-modified polyethylene/polypropylene nonwoven fabric synthesized via radiation grafting technique

In this study,to efficiently remove Pb(Ⅱ) from aqueous environments,a novel L-serine-modified polyethylene/polypropylene nonwoven fabric sorbent(NWF-serine)was fabricated through the radiation grafting of glycidyl methacrylate and subsequent L-serine modification.The effect of the absorbed dose was investigated in the range of 5–50 kGy.NWF-serine was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy,thermogravimetric analysis,and scanning electron microscopy.Batch adsorption tests were conducted to investigate the influences of pH,adsorption time,temperature,initial concentration,and sorbent dosage on the Pb(Ⅱ) adsorption performance of NWF-serine.The results indicated that Pb(Ⅱ) adsorption onto NWF-serine was an endothermic process,following the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and Langmuir isotherm model.The saturated adsorption capacity was 198.1 mg/g.NWF-serine exhibited Pb(Ⅱ) removal rates of 99.8% for aqueous solutions with initial concentrations of 100 mg/L and 82.1% for landfill leachate containing competitive metal ions such as Cd,Cu,Ni,Mn,and Zn.Furthermore,NWF-serine maintained 86% of its Pb(Ⅱ) uptake after five use cycles.The coordination of the carboxyl and amino groups with Pb(Ⅱ) was confirmed using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and extended X-ray absorption fine structure analysis.

Overexpression of low-density lipoprotein receptor prevents neurotoxic polarization of astrocytes via inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome activation in experimental ischemic stroke

Neurotoxic astrocytes are a promising therapeutic target for the attenuation of cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury.Low-density lipoprotein receptor,a classic cholesterol regulatory receptor,has been found to inhibit NLR family pyrin domain containing protein 3(NLRP3)inflammasome activation in neurons following ischemic stroke and to suppress the activation of microglia and astrocytes in individuals with Alzheimer’s disease.However,little is known about the effects of low-density lipoprotein receptor on astrocytic activation in ischemic stroke.To address this issue in the present study,we examined the mechanisms by which low-density lipoprotein receptor regulates astrocytic polarization in ischemic stroke models.First,we examined low-density lipoprotein receptor expression in astrocytes via immunofluorescence staining and western blotting analysis.We observed significant downregulation of low-density lipoprotein receptor following middle cerebral artery occlusion reperfusion and oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation.Second,we induced the astrocyte-specific overexpression of low-density lipoprotein receptor using astrocyte-specific adeno-associated virus.Low-density lipoprotein receptor overexpression in astrocytes improved neurological outcomes in middle cerebral artery occlusion mice and reversed neurotoxic astrocytes to create a neuroprotective phenotype.Finally,we found that the overexpression of low-density lipoprotein receptor inhibited NLRP3 inflammasome activation in oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation injured astrocytes and that the addition of nigericin,an NLRP3 agonist,restored the neurotoxic astrocyte phenotype.These findings suggest that low-density lipoprotein receptor could inhibit the NLRP3-meidiated neurotoxic polarization of astrocytes and that increasing low-density lipoprotein receptor in astrocytes might represent a novel strategy for treating cerebral ischemic stroke.

Polyethylene glycol has immunoprotective effects on sciatic allografts, but behavioral recovery and graft tolerance require neurorrhaphy and axonal fusion

Behavioral recovery using(viable)peripheral nerve allografts to repair ablation-type(segmental-loss)peripheral nerve injuries is delayed or poor due to slow and inaccurate axonal regeneration.Furthermore,such peripheral nerve allografts undergo immunological rejection by the host immune system.In contrast,peripheral nerve injuries repaired by polyethylene glycol fusion of peripheral nerve allografts exhibit excellent behavioral recovery within weeks,reduced immune responses,and many axons do not undergo Wallerian degeneration.The relative contribution of neurorrhaphy and polyethylene glycol-fusion of axons versus the effects of polyethylene glycol per se was unknown prior to this study.We hypothesized that polyethylene glycol might have some immune-protective effects,but polyethylene glycol-fusion was necessary to prevent Wallerian degeneration and functional/behavioral recovery.We examined how polyethylene glycol solutions per se affect functional and behavioral recovery and peripheral nerve allograft morphological and immunological responses in the absence of polyethylene glycol-induced axonal fusion.Ablation-type sciatic nerve injuries in outbred Sprague–Dawley rats were repaired according to a modified protocol using the same solutions as polyethylene glycol-fused peripheral nerve allografts,but peripheral nerve allografts were loose-sutured(loose-sutured polyethylene glycol)with an intentional gap of 1–2 mm to prevent fusion by polyethylene glycol of peripheral nerve allograft axons with host axons.Similar to negative control peripheral nerve allografts not treated by polyethylene glycol and in contrast to polyethylene glycol-fused peripheral nerve allografts,animals with loose-sutured polyethylene glycol peripheral nerve allografts exhibited Wallerian degeneration for all axons and myelin degeneration by 7 days postoperatively and did not recover sciatic-mediated behavioral functions by 42 days postoperatively.Other morphological signs of rejection,such as collapsed Schwann cell basal lamina tubes,were absent in polyethylene glycol-fused peripheral nerve allografts but commonly observed in negative control and loose-sutured polyethylene glycol peripheral nerve allografts at 21 days postoperatively.Loose-sutured polyethylene glycol peripheral nerve allografts had more pro-inflammatory and less anti-inflammatory macrophages than negative control peripheral nerve allografts.While T cell counts were similarly high in loose-sutured-polyethylene glycol and negative control peripheral nerve allografts,loose-sutured polyethylene glycol peripheral nerve allografts expressed some cytokines/chemokines important for T cell activation at much lower levels at 14 days postoperatively.MHCI expression was elevated in loose-sutured polyethylene glycol peripheral nerve allografts,but MHCII expression was modestly lower compared to negative control at 21 days postoperatively.We conclude that,while polyethylene glycol per se reduces some immune responses of peripheral nerve allografts,successful polyethylene glycol-fusion repair of some axons is necessary to prevent Wallerian degeneration of those axons and immune rejection of peripheral nerve allografts,and produce recovery of sensory/motor functions and voluntary behaviors.Translation of polyethylene glycol-fusion technologies would produce a paradigm shift from the current clinical practice of waiting days to months to repair ablation peripheral nerve injuries.

Polyethylene glycol fusion repair of severed rat sciatic nerves reestablishes axonal continuity and reorganizes sensory terminal fields in the spinal cord

Peripheral nerve injuries result in the rapid degeneration of distal nerve segments and immediate loss of motor and sensory functions;behavioral recovery is typically poor.We used a plasmalemmal fusogen,polyethylene glycol(PEG),to immediately fuse closely apposed open ends of severed proximal and distal axons in rat sciatic nerves.We have previously reported that sciatic nerve axons repaired by PEG-fusion do not undergo Wallerian degeneration,and PEG-fused animals exhibit rapid(within 2–6 weeks)and extensive locomotor recovery.Furthermore,our previous report showed that PEG-fusion of severed sciatic motor axons was non-specific,i.e.,spinal motoneurons in PEG-fused animals were found to project to appropriate as well as inappropriate target muscles.In this study,we examined the consequences of PEG-fusion for sensory axons of the sciatic nerve.Young adult male and female rats(Sprague–Dawley)received either a unilateral single cut or ablation injury to the sciatic nerve and subsequent repair with or without(Negative Control)the application of PEG.Compound action potentials recorded immediately after PEG-fusion repair confirmed conduction across the injury site.The success of PEG-fusion was confirmed through Sciatic Functional Index testing with PEG-fused animals showing improvement in locomotor function beginning at 35 days postoperatively.At 2–42 days postoperatively,we anterogradely labeled sensory afferents from the dorsal aspect of the hindpaw following bilateral intradermal injection of wheat germ agglutinin conjugated horseradish peroxidase.PEG-fusion repair reestablished axonal continuity.Compared to unoperated animals,labeled sensory afferents ipsilateral to the injury in PEG-fused animals were found in the appropriate area of the dorsal horn,as well as inappropriate mediolateral and rostrocaudal areas.Unexpectedly,despite having intact peripheral nerves,similar reorganizations of labeled sensory afferents were also observed contralateral to the injury and repair.This central reorganization may contribute to the improved behavioral recovery seen after PEG-fusion repair,supporting the use of this novel repair methodology over currently available treatments.

Experimental Study of the Influence of Intrinsic Parameters on the Thermal Reactivity of Sawdust, Polyethylene Terephthalate and Composite

Several works have been based on the study of thermal variations in biomass to derive more valuable products such as fuels capable of replacing oil in the event of a crisis or activated carbon used as an adsorbent material, widely used in industry for the elimination of unwanted materials, both in liquid and gaseous environments. A study of thermal parameters such as: heating speed, retention time, drying temperature, carbonization temperature, particle size, was carried out with the aim of determining the characteristic factors of the carbonization of Polyethylene terephthalate (PET), sawdust (SC) and sawdust/polyethylene terephthalate (CPS) mixture. The results of the immediate analysis revealed a very low level of ash in PET (0.013%) compared to the level of ash in sawdust (2.9%), as well as a high level of fixed carbon (82.960%), which suggests the presence of mineral oxides and a significant carbon matrix unlike PET, which indicates a very significant organic matrix (essentially made up of organic matter) with the absence of mineral oxides. The study of thermal parameters showed the water loss from Sawdust (SC) and the Sawdust/Polyethylene terephthalate (CPS) mixture, an increase with temperature, unlike that of PET whose variation is essentially zero. Without heat treatment, sawdust alone contains approximately 7% water. The optimal drying temperature for this study is 110˚C for a stay of 24 hours. It appears that the largest mass losses for the PET samples are between 87.19% and 96.05%, followed by that of the mixture, between 47.33% and 64.37%. And the lowest are observed, those of sawdust (from 24.02% to 62.6%). However, here we can say that the influence of the mass is not great, given the slight difference between the losses by temperature. The results of the study of the influence of grain size showed that the differences are insignificant, even if we vary the diameter of the grains from simple to triple. To better minimize physical constraints such as the intragranular diffusibility of the volatile matter and the homogeneity of the temperature in the grains, 75 μm particles are found to be optimal for our study. It can be noted when studying the heating rate that the mass loss at the end of the reaction is approximately the same depending on each precursor material. However, it has been demonstrated that the heating rate strongly influences the nature of the reaction products both for volatile materials and for the solid residue as well as on the kinetic parameters of the chemical reaction. Furthermore, the variation in apparent density shows a decrease as a function of the increase in the residence time of the materials in the reactor. As the carbonization time increases, the apparent density decreases. We note, for the lignocellulosic material, that the apparent density stabilizes after 60 minutes.

Enhancing performance of low-temperature processed CsPbI2Br all-inorganic perovskite solar cells using polyethylene oxide-modified TiO_(2)

CsPbX_(3)-based(X=I,Br,Cl)inorganic perovskite solar cells(PSCs)prepared by low-temperature process have attracted much attention because of their low cost and excellent thermal stability.However,the high trap state density and serious charge recombination between low-temperature processed TiO_(2)film and inorganic perovskite layer interface seriously restrict the performance of all-inorganic PSCs.Here a thin polyethylene oxide(PEO)layer is employed to modify TiO_(2)film to passivate traps and promote carrier collection.The impacts of PEO layer on microstructure and photoelectric characteristics of TiO_(2)film and related devices are systematically studied.Characterization results suggest that PEO modification can reduce the surface roughness of TiO_(2)film,decrease its average surface potential,and passivate trap states.At optimal conditions,the champion efficiency of CsPbI_(2)Br PSCs with PEO-modified TiO_(2)(PEO-PSCs)has been improved to 11.24%from 9.03%of reference PSCs.Moreover,the hysteresis behavior and charge recombination have been suppressed in PEO-PSCs.