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•The recent progress of obtaining and applications of pitch-based carbon fibers is summarized;.•The future development trends of pitch-based carbon fibers are prospected;.•Advantages of pitch precursors as effective, economical, sustainable, and renewability for carbon fiber production.

IMPORTANCE: In patients with heart failure (HF) and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) equal to or greater than 40%, a transcatheter interatrial shunt device (IASD; Corvia Medical) reduces exercise pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) and is safe compared with sham control treatment at 1 month of follow-up. The longer-term safety and patency of the IASD has not yet been demonstrated in the setting of a randomized clinical trial (RCT). OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the 1-year safety and clinical outcomes of the IASD compared with a sham control treatment. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This phase 2, double-blind, 1-to-1 sham-controlled multicenter RCT of IASD implantation vs a sham procedure (femoral venous access and imaging of the interatrial septum without IASD) was conducted in 22 centers in the United States, Europe, and Australia on patients with New York Heart Association (NYHA) class III or ambulatory class IV HF, LVEF equal to or greater than 40%, exercise PCWP equal to or greater than 25 mm Hg, and PCWP-right atrial pressure gradient equal to or greater than 5 mm Hg. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Safety was assessed by major adverse cardiac, cerebrovascular, or renal events (MACCRE). Exploratory outcomes evaluated at 1 year were hospitalizations for HF, NYHA class, quality of life, a 6-minute walk test, and device patency. RESULTS: After 1 year, shunts were patent in all IASD-treated patients; MACCRE did not differ significantly in the IASD arm (2 of 21 [9.5%]) vs the control arm (5 of 22 [22.7%]; P = .41), and no strokes occurred. The yearly rate of hospitalizations for HF was 0.22 in the IASD arm and 0.63 in the control arm (P = .06). Median improvement in NYHA class was 1 class in the IASD arm (IQR, −1 to 0) vs 0 in the control arm (IQR, −1 to 0; P = .08). Quality of life and 6-minute walk test distance were similar in both groups. At 6 months, there was an increase in right ventricular size in the IASD arm (mean [SD], 7.9 [8.0] mL/m2) vs the control arm (−1.8 [9.6] mL/m2; P = .002), consistent with left-to-right shunting through the device; no further increase occurred in the IASD arm at 12 months. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: The REDUCE LAP-HF I phase 2, sham-controlled RCT confirms the longer-term patency of the IASD. Through 1 year of follow-up, IASD treatment appears safe, with no significant differences in MACCRE in patients receiving IASD compared with those who received sham control treatment. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02600234

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Herein was proposed a facile and beneficial strategy to solve “hot” issues of existing flexible batteries by providing a uniform and stable framework for bendable, portable and semi-transparent “all-in-one” lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). The “all-in-one” flexible LIB was fabricated by one-stage electrospinning of PVDF-HFP-based precursor solution loaded with active materials. Nanostructured graphite and LiFePO4were used as anode and cathode active materials, respectively. An optimum amount of CNT was added to the electrospinning solutions to increase the electronic conductivity of the fibrous electrodes. The electrochemical performance of the anode and cathode membranes was investigated in lithium half cells. The areal capacities of the electrodes were around 5 μAh cm−2with stable performance for >30 cycles. Further, three solutions for the anode, separator (containing polymer only) and cathode were electrospun successively on top of each other. As a result, a flexible, bendable and semi-transparent membrane containing all three components (i.e., cathode, separator and anode) was fabricated. The membrane was then soaked into the liquid electrolyte (LiPF6in EC/DMC/DEC (1:1:1 vol%)) and assembled into a quasi-dry full-cell battery. As a result, the potential of the “all-in-one” flexible battery was stable even after 40 bends.

In this research aerogels were synthesized by homogenization of carbon nanotubes and chitosan under ultrasonic treatment and active magnetic stirring, followed by freeze-drying in order to remove the liquid from its structure. Freeze-drying is characterized by a certain ratio of pressure and temperature at which the solid phase, in our case - the ice, turns into a gas without passing through a liquid phase. Freeze-drying was carried out at a temperature of-5 ° C and a pressure of 30-80 Pa. After freeze-drying which lasted for 20 hours, the as-obtained aerogels were carbonized at temperature of 800 °C in an inert atmosphere. Surface morphology of resulting aerogels was studied using scanning electron microscopy. The hydrophobicity and sorption capacity of these aerogels to organic liquids characterized by different densities were investigated. In addition, composite aerogels with the presence of graphene layers in the structure were obtained and the influence of introduction of graphene on aerogel’s properties was analyzed. It was found that composite aerogels based on graphene and carbon nanotubes with chitosan as a glue matrix are characterized by a better-developed porosity of surface with a smaller pore sizes, and their sorption capacity for organic liquids is also higher compared with the aerogels based on carbon nanotubes.

In the paper separation methods of organic part from oil sands were investigated at experimantally. For the determination of organic part (liquid fraction) of oil sands the extraction methods was used in Soxhlet apparatus by solvent. Thermal processing was carried out with a monotonic heating of oil sands from room temperature to 560 0C. As showing results, organic part of Beke oil sands studied by extraction method were 12.0 wt.%. Thermal processing results showed, that the organic part of Beke oil sands were 9.6 wt.%. Physical and mechanical characteristics of liquid fraction are established by standard methods.

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction represents a major unmet clinical need with limited treatment options. Recent device therapies under investigation have focused on decompression of the left atrium through an implantable interatrial shunt. Although these devices have shown favorable safety and efficacy signals, an implant is required to maintain shunt patency, which may increase the patient risk profile and complicate subsequent interventions requiring transseptal access.

In this research aerogels were synthesized by homogenization of carbon nanotubes and chitosan under ultrasonic treatment and active magnetic stirring, followed by freeze-drying in order to remove the liquid from its structure. Freeze-drying is characterized by a certain ratio of pressure and temperature at which the solid phase, in our case - the ice, turns into a gas without passing through a liquid phase. Freeze-drying was carried out at a temperature of-5 ° C and a pressure of 30-80 Pa. After freeze-drying which lasted for 20 hours, the as-obtained aerogels were carbonized at temperature of 800 °C in an inert atmosphere. Surface morphology of resulting aerogels was studied using scanning electron microscopy. The hydrophobicity and sorption capacity of these aerogels to organic liquids characterized by different densities were investigated. In addition, composite aerogels with the presence of graphene layers in the structure were obtained and the influence of introduction of graphene on aerogel’s properties was analyzed. It was found that composite aerogels based on graphene and carbon nanotubes with chitosan as a glue matrix are characterized by a better-developed porosity of surface with a smaller pore sizes, and their sorption capacity for organic liquids is also higher compared with the aerogels based on carbon nanotubes.

Purpose: To examine the safety and efficacy of catheter-based plaque excision as an alternative therapy to surgery, conventional angioplasty, and/or stenting in high-risk patients with critical limb ischemia (CLI).Methods: Between August 2003 and August 2004, a prospective evaluation was conducted of consecutive patients with CLI (Rutherford category ≥5) who were treated with endovascular plaque excision at 7 institutions. This study enrolled 69 patients (37 women; mean age 70±12 years, range 43–93) with CLI involving 76 limbs. Clinical outcomes were prospectively followed for 6 months. The primary endpoint was major adverse events (death, myocardial infarction, unplanned amputation, or repeat target vessel revascularization) at 30 days. Visible healing of ulcerated tissue, avoidance of any amputation, and performance of less extensive amputation than initially planned were also assessed.Results: Procedural success was achieved in 99% of cases. Major adverse events occurred in 1% of patients at 30 days and 23% at 6 months. The target lesion revascularization rate was 4%, and there were no unplanned limb amputations. Amputation was less extensive than initially planned or avoided altogether in 92% of patients at 30 days and 82% at 6 months.Conclusion: Catheter-based plaque excision is a safe and effective revascularization method for patients with CLI. These findings support further study of this modality as a singular or adjunctive endovascular therapy for limb salvage in CLI.

A substrate-independent method has been devised for ring formation at solid surfaces. This entails the aminolysis reaction of allylamine with maleic anhydride pulsed plasma polymer films to yield terminal alkene groups at the surface. Subsequent exposure to 1,3-cyclohexadiene leads to a Diels−Alder type (4 + 2) cycloaddition reaction to give a mixture of endo- and exo-bicyclo[2.2.2]oct-2-ene rings.

Purpose: To evaluate a continuous-infusion protocol for peripheral arterial thrombolysis using tenecteplase (TNK), with regard to the technique, dosing, infusion times, and clinical outcomes.Methods: Between November 1999 and July 2002, 48 patients (30 men; mean age 68.5±11.9 years) presented with acute limb ischemia (ALI) owing to iliofemoral arterial thrombosis, which was treated with continuous TNK infusion (either 0.50 mg/h [n=22, group A] or 0.25 mg/h [n=26, group B]). All patients received periprocedural heparin (500 U/h) and peri and postprocedural tirofiban for 6 to 12 hours. Follow-up included ankle-brachial index and duplex ultrasound at baseline, 1 month, and 6 months. The variables retrospectively analyzed included total infusion time, total TNK dose, fibrinogen analysis, clinical and thrombolysis outcomes, and complications.Results: The overall clinical procedural success was 95.8%. Complete (>95%) lysis was observed in 35 (73%) patients; overall mean infusion time was 7.5 hours, and overall mean TNK dose was 4.8 mg. No deaths, intracranial bleeding, or embolic events occurred in either group. Of the 8 (16.7%) complications, 5 (10.4%) were major: 1 femoral repair (group A), 2 >5-cm nonsurgical hematomas (1 in each group), and 2 gastrointestinal hemorrhages (1 in each group). The 3 (6.3%) minor complications were minor hematomas (2 in group A and 1 in group B). The 30-day and 14-month mean limb salvage rates were 95.8% (46/48) and 89.6% (43/48), respectively.Conclusions: Continuous TNK infusion (0.25–0.50 mg/h) is a safe and feasible treatment for continuous pharmacological thrombolysis in ALI, potentially offering decreased infusion times and bleeding complications, as well as improved outcomes.

Purpose: To report the technique of carotid endarterectomy (CEA) combined with retrograde balloon angioplasty and stenting of proximal “tandem” lesions in the supra-aortic trunk.Technique: Intraoperative techniques in 34 patients with 23 left common carotid artery (CCA) and 11 innominate artery lesions included general anesthesia, low-dose dextran, prosthetic patching, selective shunting, 8-F sheath entry into the native CCA before the CEA, manual CCA sizing, and balloon-expandable stent placement after predilation. The technique has a high procedural success rate (97%) and appears durable. Over a mean 34-month follow-up, 2 >70% ostial CCA restenoses were found at 24 months.Conclusions: Intraoperative innominate or left CCA balloon angioplasty/stenting combined with carotid endarterectomy is safe, effective, and durable.

Amine-terminated polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers can be immobilized onto anhydride-functionalized pulsed plasma polymer surfaces via amide linkage formation. The packing density of dendrimers at the surface can be tailored by programming the pulse duty cycle parameters during plasma polymerization. These PAMAM dendrimer layers are shown to be useful for a variety of surface-related phenomena, for example, fluorination, adhesion, and gas barrier enhancement.

Vapor phase esterification of 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol, 4,4,4-trifluorobutanol, and ethanol with poly(ethylene-alt-maleic anhydride) copolymer surfaces has been followed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The rate of reaction and yield are found to be strongly dependent upon the nucleophilicity of the chosen alcohol.

Pulsed plasma polymerization of maleic anhydride leads to the deposition of well-defined anhydride functionalized films. These layers readily undergo reaction with amine-terminated nucleophiles to produce surface amide linkages that convert into cyclic imide groups upon heating. Potential applications include adhesion and biocompatibility.

Octylphenol (OP) is a commercial intermediate used primarily for the production of octylphenol polyethoxylate surfactants. To determine potential reproductive toxicity of OP, a two-generation reproduction study was conducted according to U.S. EPA OPPTS Guideline 870.3800 (draft 1996). Additional measurements were made on retained F2 offspring. OP was administered ad libitumto five groups of rats (30/sex) at dietary concentrations of 0, 0.2, 20, 200, or 2000 ppm. The 0.2 ppm concentration was included to evaluate potential low dose effects. Effects were observed only at 2000 ppm, including decreased body weights in adults and during the latter portion of lactation in offspring and minor body weight-related delays in acquisition of vaginal opening and preputial separation. No effects on reproductive parameters, testes, prostate, or ovary weights or morphology, on sperm counts, motility, morphology, production, or on estrous cyclicity were observed. No estrogen-like effects were evident. The NOAELs for systemic and postnatal toxicity were 200 ppm and at or above 2000 ppm for reproductive toxicity. This study supports the increasing evidence that screening assays for estrogenic activity or studies with limited numbers of animals and/or unrealistic dose regimens are inappropriate for use in the assessment of human health and environmental risk. It does not support previous preliminary data on low dose effects of OP.

Assessment of the Reproductive and Developmental Toxicity of Pesticide/Fertilizer Mixtures Based on Confirmed Pesticide Contamination in California and Iowa Groundwater. Heindel, J. J., Chapin, R. E., Gulati, D. K., George, J. D., Price, C. J., Marr, M. C., Myers, C. B., Barnes, L. H., Fail, P. A., Grizzle, T. B., Schwetz, B. A., and Yang, R. S. H. (1994). Fundam. Appl. Toxicol.22, 605-621.

The Reproductive and Neural Toxicities of Acrylamide and Three Analogues in Swiss Mice, Evaluated Using the Continuous Breeding Protocol. Chapin, R. E., Fail, P. A., George, J. D., Grizzle, T. B., Heindel, J. J., Harry, G. J., Collins, B. J., and Teague, J. (1995). Fundam. Appl. Toxicol. 27, 9-24. Acrylamide is a known genetic, reproductive, and neural toxicant, although it is not known if one effect is predominant. The toxicities of several structural analogues of acrylamide have been incompletely characterized, and the relative sensitivity of the second generation is not known. The present studies were designed to explore the relationship between neurotoxicity and reproductive toxicity, to further characterize the toxicities of three acrylamide analogues, and to evaluate the relative sensitivity of a second generation to these compounds. For the F₀ generation, male and female Swiss CD-1 mice were provided drinking water containing acrylamide (ACR; 3, 10, 30 ppm), N,N'-methylenebisacrylamide (MBA; 10, 30, 60 ppm), N-(hydroxymethyl)acrylamide (HMA; 60, 180, 360 ppm), or methacrylamide (MACR; 24, 80, 240 ppm) during and after a 14-week cohabitation. The last litter was reared and dosed after weaning until mating at 74 ± 10 days of age with the same level of compound given to the parents. Neurotoxicity was assessed at several times in both generations by measuring forelimb and hindlimb grip strength. In the F₀ generation, ACR caused an 11% decrease in pup number without measurable neurotoxicity; female fertility was not affected. Although both generations consumed the same amount of ACR, there were larger changes in the fertility-related endpoints in the F₁ mice than in the F₀'s, with no concomitant change in organ weights or sperm parameters. In F₀ mice, MBA reduced the number of live pups and their adjusted weight, with no neurotoxicity and no change in F₀ female reproduction. MBA caused greater adverse effects in the second generation, concomitant with increased consumption. In the F₀ generation, HMA caused the largest decrease in pup number during cohabitation (26%) together with a small effect on grip strength. Female reproduction was not affected. The second generation consumed more HMA and showed slightly greater toxic effects. In both generations, MACR was negative for both neurotoxicity and reproductive toxicity. Dominant-lethal studies showed that the fertility effects for ACR, MBA, and HMA could be explained by a male-mediated increase in postimplantation loss. These studies found that dominant lethality occurred without structural effects on the reproductive system in the presence of only minor effects on grip strength and without detectable neural histopathology. Female reproduction was not significantly affected by these compounds at the doses used. Thus, these data confirm the male as the affected gender and that the reproductive toxicity was greater than motoneuron toxicity when measured as grip strength. Copyright 1995, 1999 Academic Press

Reproductive Effects of 4-Vinylcyclohexene in Swiss Mice Assessed by a continuous Breeding Protocol. Grizzle, T. B., George, J. D., Fail, P. A., Seely, J. C., and Heindel, J. J. (1994). Fundam. Appl. Toxicol.22, 122-129.

Serum progesterone concentrations in Galago crassicaudatuswere quantified at 3‐week intervals throughout the 136‐day pregnancy. Progesterone concentrations were significantly elevated over those of nonpregnant controls as early as 6 weeks after conception. Progesterone continued to increase throughout gestation. The progesterone profile in pregnant G. crassicaudatusquantitatively resembles that of chimpanzees and qualitatively resembles that of humans. In two animals that aborted, progesterone concentrations after abortion decreased to values comparable to those seen in nonpregnant animals.

The Effects of Feed Restriction on Reproductive Function in Swiss CD-1 Mice. Chapin, R. E., Gulati, D. K., Fail, P. A., Hope, E., Russell, S. R., Heindel, J. J., George, J. D., Grizzle, T. B., and Teague, J. L. (1993). Fundam. Appl. Toxicol. 20, 15-22. Many test compounds used in toxicity studies produce a "systemic" toxicity manifested as reduced body weight gain. While it is known that reduced weight gain during juvenile growth reduces or delays reproductive competence, the effects of adult-onset feed restriction (FR) and inhibited weight gain on the reproductive system of mice are poorly known. To gain some information on the effects of graded body weight reduction, or reduced body weight gain, on commonly used reproductive endpoints, the studies reported below were conducted at two laboratories, using adult mice that were maintained at 90, 80, and 70% of concurrent control body weight (CBW) for up to 21 weeks. Estrous cyclicity and fertility in the females were significantly affected. While male fertility was variably affected, there was a significant decrease in the number of epididymal sperm and in the number of testicular spermatids in the 70% CBW groups. Testis weight was conserved in both studies; relative testis weight increased in all FR groups. These data can improve the interpretation of future studies by helping to separate chemically induced changes from those produced by reduced body weight gain. Copyright 1993, 1999 Academic Press

Assessment of the Reproductive Toxicity of a Complex Mixture of 25 Groundwater Contaminants in Mice and Rats. Heindel, J. J., Chapin, R. E., George, J., Gulati, D. K., Fail, P. A., Barnes, L. H., and Yang, R. S. H. (1995). Fundam. Appl. Toxicol. 25, 9-19. The potential reproductive toxicity of a mixture of 25 chemicals (MIX) formulated to simulate contaminated groundwater supplies near hazardous waste dumps was evaluated in CD-1 Swiss mice and Sprague-Dawley rats using the reproductive assessment by continuous breeding protocol. Male and female mice and rats were exposed to MIX in the drinking water at concentrations of 1,5, and 10% of a technically achievable stock solution. For mice, body weight and feed consumption were not affected by MIX but water consumption was decreased for both the 5 and 10% MIX groups in both F₀ and F₁ animals. For F₀ mice, the number of live pups/litter was decreased at 10% MIX and the number of females/litter was decreased 10 and 17% at the mid and high MIX dose, respectively. Vaginal cytology was normal, as were testis weight and testicular spermatid head count. For F₁ mice, fertility was unaffected, but there was a decreased number of female pups/litter (19%) and a decreased adjusted live pup weight at 10% MIX. At necropsy, cauda epididymal sperm concentration and spermatid head count were reduced (20%) in the presence of normal testis, epididymis, prostate, seminal vesicle, liver, and kidney/adrenal weight. Female estrous cyclicity was altered at 5 and 10% MIX with normal kidney/adrenal, uterus, and ovary/oviduct weight. For rats, F₀ body weight and feed consumption were not affected by MIX but water consumption was decreased 10, 30, and 40% in the low-, medium-, and high-dose MIX groups, respectively, and 39% in the high-dose MIX F₁ animals. Rat fertility was normal but there was a decreased number of male pups/litter (11%) and a decreased live pup weight (6%) at 10% MIX. Male and female (F₁) pup weights were decreased on Postnatal Days 0, 4, 7, 14, and 21 (10% MIX) and remained lower through necropsy on Day 120 ± 10. F₁ fertility was normal but F₂ pup weights were decreased (10% MIX). At necropsy, F₁ (10% MIX) male body weight was decreased 16% and relative kidney, testis, epididymis, and prostate weights were increased in the presence of normal sperm concentration percentage motile sperm and percentage abnormal sperm. Estrous cyclicity was normal as were kidney/adrenal and ovary weight while female liver weight was reduced 14%. In summary, a "cocktail" of 25 chemicals commonly found in contaminated groundwater at or near hazardous waste sites was administered in drinking water at doses which resulted in severely decreased water consumption in both mice and rats. Despite the presence, albeit at relatively low concentrations, of many known reproductive toxicants including cadmium, mercury, lead, chloroform, di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate, and methylene chloride, only minimal reproductive effects were observed in F₀ and F₁ mice and rats. Copyright 1995, 1999 Academic Press