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In this research, a fundamental study was conducted on damage behavior of cathodic arc evaporated TiN and Ti0.44Al0.56N coatings, in terms of oxidation and cracking/spallation, when they were exposed to single-pulse laser treatment in a temperature range of 1200–2100 °C. Moreover, a multiple-pulse laser treatment was designed to apply thermo-mechanical loads on the coatings in order to evaluate their thermal degradation during rapid heating/cooling cycles between 200 and 1200 °C. Single-pulse treatment of TiN up to 1500 °C led to the intercolumnar cracking and formation of ultrafine TiO grains. An increase in temperature up to 2100 °C resulted in a notable bulging of the surface, and formation of TiO2 of various morphologies such as grainy structure, dense molten and re-solidified structure, droplets from melt expulsion and, more interestingly, nanofibers. Multiple-pulse treatment of TiN was accompanied by a severe cracking and spallation, which divided the surface into two layers: a heavily cracked top layer composed of dense TiO2 grains, and a bottom layer having porous TiO2 grains indicating incomplete oxidation. Conversely, Ti0.44Al0.56N did not show any visible cracking and oxidation after single-pulse treatment. Multiple-pulse treatment did not also yield cracking and spallation for Ti0.44Al0.56N, and its ablated region consisted of TiO2 grains combined with thin Al2O3 platelets. An excellent combination of properties including higher oxidation resistance and greater fracture toughness at high temperatures led to a higher thermal damage resistance for Ti0.44Al0.56N coating compared to TiN when undergoing single- and multiple-pulse laser treatments.

In emergency care research, it may be the case that neither informed consent nor surrogate consent is possible. In order to nonetheless allow for such research, codes and regulations of research ethics have increasingly incorporated provisions regarding this specific situation. The protection that those provisions offer need to be better understood. This article addresses in what ways they protect individuals, and especially the extent to which the suggested protection compensates for the loss of surrogate consent. The Declaration of Helsinki, the Additional Protocol to the Convention on Human Rights and Biomedicine, and the EU Clinical Trials Regulation serve as the main illustrations.

High glass transition temperature (Tg) thiol-ene networks (TENs) based on poly(limonene carbonate)s (PLCs), derived from orange oils and of potential degradability are described here. PLCs with moderate molecular weight were prepared by copolymerization of limonene oxide with CO2 and subsequent breakdown reactions. These PLCs were cured with multifunctional thiol monomers in the presence of thermal initiators via thiol-ene chemistry to generate poly(thioether-co-carbonate) networks. The thermal curing experiments were optimized by a kinetic study using real-time ATR-FTIR, in which a delayed gelation was observed. For the first time, an interesting “cage” effect was observed during the network formation initiated by DCP, in which the addition reactions of pendant isopropenyls on high molecular weight PLC chains were significantly enhanced by thiol-ene crosslinking at 160 °C. The resulting homogeneous TENs with high Tgs (>100 °C) and a wide range of thermomechanical properties, including rubbery moduli from 2.9 to 28.2 MPa, were obtained. The TENs also showed promising properties such as high transparency, good acetone resistance and high hardness, suggesting their potential application in coatings.

Microplastics in the environment are a subject of intense research as they pose a potential threat to marine organisms. Plastic fibers from textiles have been indicated as a major source of this type of contaminant, entering the oceans via wastewater and diverse non-point sources. Their presence is also documented in terrestrial samples. In this study, the amount of microfibers shedding from synthetic textiles was measured for three materials (acrylic, nylon, polyester), knit using different gauges and techniques. All textiles were found to shed, but polyester fleece fabrics shed the greatest amounts, averaging 7360 fibers/m−2/L−1 in one wash, compared with polyester fabrics which shed 87 fibers/m−2/L−1. We found that loose textile constructions shed more, as did worn fabrics, and high twist yarns are to be preferred for shed reduction. Since fiber from clothing is a potentially important source of microplastics, we suggest that smarter textile construction, prewashing and vacuum exhaustion at production sites, and use of more efficient filters in household washing machines could help mitigate this problem.

A series of renewable unsaturated polyesters were synthesized from itaconic acid (IA), succinic acid, and 1,4-butanediol by solvent-free polycondensation. Previous studies utilizing IA to make polyesters for coating applications have shown great potential; however, the curing and material properties have not been investigated in detail. The aim of this study was to investigate how the curing is affected by the amount of unsaturations and how well itaconate-based polyesters crosslink without the addition of any other unsaturated monomers or reactive diluents. The chemical structures of the polyesters were confirmed with FTIR, 1H-NMR, and THF–SEC. The degree of curing was studied with FTIR, and the mechanical properties of the crosslinked polyesters were evaluated with DMA, pendulum hardness, and microindentation. The degree of curing was found to be up to 75%, and furthermore, it was found that the final mechanical properties of the crosslinked coatings could be tuned by modifying the IA content in the monomer composition. The results from DMA showed that there is a clear trend between mechanical properties and crosslinking density.

In polymer nanocomposites, particle-polymer interactions influence the properties of the matrix polymer next to the particle surface, providing different physicochemical properties than in the bulk matrix. This region is often referred to as the interphase, but detailed characterization of its properties remains a challenge. Here we employ two atomic force microscopy (AFM) force methods, differing by a factor of about 15 in probing rate, to directly measure the surface nanomechanical properties of the transition region between filler particle and matrix over a controlled temperature range. The nanocomposite consists of poly(ethyl methacrylate) (PEMA) and poly(isobutyl methacrylate) (PiBMA) with a high concentration of hydrophobized silica nanoparticles. Both AFM methods demonstrate that the interphase region around a 40-nm-sized particle located on the surface of the nanocomposite could extend to 55-70nm, and the interphase exhibits a gradient distribution in surface nanomechanical properties. However, the slower probing rate provides somewhat lower numerical values for the surface stiffness. The analysis of the local glass transition temperature (T

The use of bio-based raw material is regarded as a sustainable way to address environmental concerns. A naturally occurring monomer, 9,10-epoxy-18-hydroxyoctadecanoic acid (EFA), was retrieved from outer birch bark. A series of model experiments revealing relative reaction rates for epoxide, carboxylic acid, and alcohol functional groups was investigated. Real-time Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance were used to follow the different model experiments. The results on the model systems were then compared to the thermoset formation of thermally cured EFA. Finally, the adhesive properties of crosslinked EFA on different substrates were evaluated.

The present work describes the synthesis and characterization of fully biobased soft polymer networks for pressure sensitive adhesives applications. The incorporation of different sugars into fatty-acid-based monomers, made it possible to tailor the viscoelastic properties of the materials. Lipase catalysis allowed to afford monomers with varying hydroxyl content and epoxy-functionalities. Step-growth polymerization catalyzed by DBU resulted in soft-polyester networks through combination of the monomers with a biobased diacid. Rheological and adhesion studies were performed to elucidate the different viscoelastic and adhesive properties of the materials as a function of their composition.

This article examines different concepts and models of musical meter in light of a case that illustrates some of the challenges of developing a general theory. More precisely, in the musical example analyzed—a Swedish Polska tune—there seemingly are no isochronous metric levels (measure, beat, subdivision). Given this observation, the aim is to consider the explanatory potential of different models of metrical coherence as well as to suggest some new avenues of enquiry. The article concludes by offering an alternative framework for understanding how temporal relationships can be controlled and form coherent patterns despite vast irregularities.

Enzyme catalyzed synthesis of renewable polyamides was investigated using Candida antarctica lipase B. A fatty acid-derived AB-type functional monomer, having one amine and one methyl ester functionality, was homopolymerized at 80 and 140 °C. Additionally, the organobase 1,5,7-triazabicyclo[4.4.0]dec-5-ene (TBD) was used as a catalyst. The results from the two catalysts were comparable. However, the amount of lipase added was 1.2 × 103 times lower, showing that the lipase was a more efficient catalyst for this system as compared to TBD. Moreover, the AB-type monomer was copolymerized with 1,12-diaminododecane to synthesize oligoamides of two different lengths.

We use a modified cathodic arc deposition technique, including an electromagnetic coil that introduces a magnetic field in the vicinity of the source, to study its influence on the growth of (Ti0.36Al0.64)N coatings. By increasing the strength of the magnetic field produced by the coil, the cathode arc spots are steered toward the edge of the cathode, and the electrons are guided to an annular anode surrounding the cathode. As a result, the plasma density between the cathode and substrate decreased, which was observed as a lateral spread of the plasma plume, and a reduction of the deposition rate. Optical emission spectroscopy shows reduced intensities of all recorded plasma species when the magnetic field is increased due to a lower number of collisions resulting in excitation. We note a charge-to-mass ratio decrease of 12% when the magnetic field is increased, which is likely caused by a reduced degree of gas phase ionization, mainly through a decrease in N2 ionization. (Ti0.36Al0.64)N coatings grown at different plasma densities show considerable variations in grain size and phase composition. Two growth modes were identified, resulting in coatings with (i) a fine-grained glassy cubic and wurtzite phase mixture when deposited with a weak magnetic field, and (ii) a coarse-grained columnar cubic phase with a strong magnetic field. The latter conditions result in lower energy flux to the coating’s growth front, which suppresses surface diffusion and favors the formation of c-(Ti,Al)N solid solutions over phase segregated c-TiN and w-AlN. Funding agencies: Swedish Research CouncilSwedish Research Council [621-2012-4401]; Swedish government strategic research area grant AFM-SFO MatLiU [2009-00971]; VINNOVA FunMat-IIVinnova [2016-05156]

The mechanical properties of hydrogels are of importance in many applications, including scaffolds and drug delivery vehicles where the release of drugs is controlled by water transport. While the macroscopic mechanical properties of hydrogels have been reported frequently, there are less studies devoted to the equally important nanomechanical response to local load and shear. Scanning probe methods offer the possibility to gain insight on surface nanomechanical properties with high spatial resolution, and thereby provide fundamental insights on local material property variations. In this work, we investigate the local response to load and shear of poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) hydrogels with two different cross-linking densities submerged in aqueous solution. The response of the hydrogels to purely normal loads, as well as the combined action of load and shear, was found to be complex due to viscoelastic effects. Our results show that the surface stiffness of the hydrogel samples increased with increasing load, while the tip-hydrogel adhesion was strongly affected by the load only when the cross-linking density was low. The combined action of load and shear results in the formation of a temporary sub-micrometer hill in front of the laterally moving tip. As the tip pushes against such hills, a pronounced stick-slip effect is observed for the hydrogel with low cross-linking density. No plastic deformation or permanent wear scar was found under our experimental conditions.

The role of mothers in prenatal research has been discussed extensively. Significantly less work has been done on the father’s role. In this article, focusing on ethical issues, we seek to redress this imbalance. Examining the father’s position in research conducted on pregnant women, we ask whether or not paternal consent ought to be required in addition to that of the pregnant woman. Having distinguished between different concepts of father and mother, we proceed by giving an overview of the reasons for requiring consent of the woman who is carrying the child. We then examine which of these reasons apply to the biological father, and show that some of them are relevant to the father. The case, roughly speaking, revolves around privacy issues, the father’s future legal responsibilities, and the likelihood that he will care about the health and wellbeing of his future child. These factors in the decision problem should all be recognized, as should the fact that they can in principle be trumped by other considerations.

The project “A Plurality of Lives” was funded and hosted by the Pufendorf Institute for Advanced Studies at Lund University, Sweden. The aim of the project was to better understand how a second origin of life, either in the form of a discovery of extraterrestrial life, life developed in a laboratory, or machines equipped with abilities previously only ascribed to living beings, will change how we understand and relate to life. Because of the inherently interdisciplinary nature of the project aim, the project took an interdisciplinary approach with a research group made up of 12 senior researchers representing 12 different disciplines. The project resulted in a joint volume, an international symposium, several new projects, and a network of researchers in the field, all continuing to communicate about and advance the aim of the project.

This chapter describes the experience of the project on the adaptation of the Swedish model of training through entrepreneurship in the north-west region of Russia. The model was developed by the Swedish Foundation for Entrepreneurship Training and has been used in Swedish schools for over 20 years. The chapter's co-author served as the project manager in Russia from the Stockholm School of Economics. In addition, the co-author participated in the development of a short course, “Understanding the Life of Business,” for secondary school teachers. The chapter describes the concept, the specifics of its application in Russia, presents all stages of the project work, the results obtained, and the current situation.

Coatings of (Al1-xVx)2O3, with x ranging from 0 to 1, were deposited by pulsed DC reactive sputter deposition on Si(100) at a temperature of 550 {\deg}C. XRD showed three different crystal structures depending on V-metal fraction in the coating: {\alpha}-V2O3 rhombohedral structure for 100 at.% V, a defect spinel structure for the intermediate region, 63 - 42 at.% V. At lower V-content, 18 and 7 at.%, a gamma-alumina-like solid solution was observed, shifted to larger d-spacing compared to pure {\gamma}-Al2O3. The microstructure changes from large columnar faceted grains for {\alpha}-V2O3 to smaller equiaxed grains when lowering the vanadium content toward pure {\gamma}-Al2O3. Annealing in air resulted in formation of V2O5 crystals on the surface of the coating after annealing to 500 {\deg}C for 42 at.% V and 700 {\deg}C for 18 at.% V metal fraction respectively. The highest thermal stability was shown for pure {\gamma}-Al2O3-coating, which transformed to {\alpha}-Al2O3 after annealing to 1100{\deg} C. Highest hardness was observed for the Al-rich oxides, ~24 GPa. The latter decreased with increasing V-content, larger than 7 at.% V metal fraction. The measured hardness after annealing in air decreased in conjunction with the onset of further oxidation of the coatings.

Engineering materials that can store electrical energy in structural load paths can revolutionize lightweight design across transport modes. Stiff and strong batteries that use solid-state electrolytes and resilient electrodes and separators are generally lacking. Herein, a structural battery composite with unprecedented multifunctional performance is demonstrated, featuring an energy density of 24 Wh kg-1 and an elastic modulus of 25 GPa and tensile strength exceeding 300 MPa. The structural battery is made from multifunctional constituents, where reinforcing carbon fibers (CFs) act as electrode and current collector. A structural electrolyte is used for load transfer and ion transport and a glass fiber fabric separates the CF electrode from an aluminum foil-supported lithium–iron–phosphate positive electrode. Equipped with these materials, lighter electrical cars, aircraft, and consumer goods can be pursued.

Wide-spread use of cellulose nanofibril (CNF) biocomposites and nanomaterials is limited by CNF moisture sensitivity due to surface hydration. We report on a versatile and scalable interface tailor ...

Part of the standard protection of decisionally incapacitated research subjects is a prohibition against enrolling them unless surrogate decision makers authorize it. A common view is that surrogates primarily ought to make their decisions based on what the decisionally incapacitated subject would have wanted regarding research participation. However, empirical studies indicate that surrogate predictions about such preferences are not very accurate. The focus of this article is the significance of surrogate accuracy in the context of research that is not expected to benefit the research subject. We identify three morally relevant asymmetries between being enrolled and not being enrolled in such non-beneficial research, and conclude that when there is a non-negligible probability that surrogates' predictions are wrong, it will generally be better to err on the side of not authorizing enrollment.

Labour market structures which offer fewer options to women than to men, as well as relatively poor educational facilities, are usually mentioned as primary causes for why remote and economically w ...

The use of enzymes as selective catalysts for processing renewable monomers into added value polymers and materials has received increased attention during the last decade. In the present work Candida antarctica lipase B (CalB) was used as catalyst in one-pot routes to synthesise multifunctional oligoester resins based on an epoxy-functional omega-hydroxy-fatty acid (EFA) extracted from birch bark. The chemoselective enzymatic process resulted in three different EFA-based telechelic oligomers with targeted molecular weights; containing maleimide, methacrylate or oxetane as end-groups, respectively. The enzyme catalysed synthesis of the maleimide and the oxetane telechelic oligomers reached full conversion of monomers (>95%) after 2 h. In the case of methacrylate functional oligomer the EFA monomer reached full conversion (>98%) after 2 h but the integration of the methacrylate moiety took more than 10 h. This was due to a rate limiting reaction path using ethylene glycol dimethacrylate as substrate. The oligomer products were characterised by NMR, MALDI-TOF-MS and SEC. QC 20160426

Increased environmental awareness has led to a demand for sustainable, bio-based materials. Consequently, the development of new benign synthesis pathways utilizing a minimum of reaction steps and available bio-based building blocks is needed. In the present study, vinyl ether alcohols and functional carboxylic acids were used to synthesize bifunctional vinyl ether esters using the immobilized enzyme

The rapidly oscillating Ap (roAp) stars exhibit pulsational photometric and/or radial velocity variations on time scales of several minutes, which are essential to test current pulsation models as well as our assumptions of atmospheric structure characteristics. In addition, their chemical peculiarity makes them very interesting for probing stellar formation and evolution in the presence of a global magnetic field. To date, a limited number of only 61 roAp stars are known to show photometric variability. On the other hand, a literature survey yields 619 unique stars that have unsuccessfully been searched for variability of this kind. Stroemgren-Crawford uvbybeta photometry of stars from both subgroups were used to investigate whether there is a selection bias of the investigated stars. We also present new photometric measurements (202 hours in 59 different nights) of 55 roAp candidates.We did not detect any new roAp star. Although our detection limits are comparable to other surveys, we also did not find pulsations in the known roAp star HD 12098, which may be a consequence of temporal amplitude changes. On the other hand, we do find some evidence for photometric variability of beta CrB at its spectroscopically derived pulsation period. From the uvbybeta photometry we conclude that the blue border of the roAp instability strip appears observationally well defined, whereas the red border is rather poorly known and studied. Within these boundaries, a total of 4646 candidates were identified which appear worthwhile to be investigated for short-term pulsational variability., 14 pages, 2 figures, accepted for Research in Astronomy and Astrophysics

This paper explores the Swedish auxiliary orka and its English correspondences as reflected in English-Swedish parallel corpora. Orka is interesting from a contrastive perspective since it lacks a straightforward equivalent in English. We show that most of the English correspondences, both in the direction Swedish original to English translation and in the direction English original to Swedish translation, indicate a semantic analysis of Swedish orka involving a combination of two meaning components 1) ability and 2) sufficient physical or mental strength/energy . We suggest an analysis inspired by Nadathur (2016) where ability is the core semantic property, but sufficiency of physical or mental energy is included in the lexical meaning of the verb as a potential obstacle to ability. In addition, our material includes correspondences reflecting a second meaning involving sufficiency of volition (von Fintel, 2006), which we assume is derived from the meaning above. We also note that orka predominantly occurs in negative polarity contexts, and speculate that the relatively recent use of the imperative form orka in informal talk, meaning something along the lines of ‘I could not be bothered’, might have its source in such negative connotations. In addition to offering a specified semantic description of the Swedish verb orka , our study contributes to cross-linguistic studies of expressions of sufficiency meanings and sufficiency as a meaning component in verbs (Fortuin, 2013).

The principle of self-determination plays a crucial role in contemporary clinical ethics. Somewhat simplified, it states that it is ultimately the patient who should decide whether or not to accept suggested treatment or care. Although the principle is much discussed in the academic literature, one important aspect has been neglected, namely the fact that real-world decision making is temporally extended, in the sense that it generally takes some time from the point at which the physician (or other health care professional) determines that there is a decision to be made and that the patient is capable of making it, to the point at which the patient is actually asked for his or her view. This article asks under what circumstances, if any, temporising—waiting to pose a certain treatment question to a patient judged to have decision-making capacity—is compatible with the principle of self-determination.

In the pursuit of environmentally friendly building blocks in polymer chemistry the utilization of biobased monomers is highly desired. In the present study, the biobased monomer 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) has been extended into epoxy thermosets. The study presents the synthesis of diallyl furan-2,5-dicarboxylate (DAFDC) followed by an epoxidation of the allyls to form diglycidyl furan-2,5-dicarboxylate (DGFDC). DGFDC was then copolymerized in both stoichiometric and off-stoichiometric ratios with epoxidized fatty methyl esters to form a range of thermosets. The cross-linking reaction was either thermally or UV-induced cationic polymerization utilizing onium salt initiators where the reactivity was studied by DSC and real-time fourier transform infrared analysis. Furthermore, the structure–property relationships of the final thermosets were determined by dynamic mechanical thermal analysis revealing a possibility to tune the properties over a wide range. In addition thermosets were made from diglycidyl Bisphenol-A (DGEBA) with epoxidized fatty methyl esters made for comparative purposes.

There is a demand for new sustainable polymeric materials. Vinyl ethers are, in this context, attractive oligomers since they polymerize fast, are non-toxic, and can be polymerized under ambient co ...

Particle cycle and residence time distributions in different regions, particularly in the spray zone, play an important role in fluid bed coating. In this study, a DEM-CFD (discrete element method, computational fluid dynamics) model is employed to determine particle cycle and residence time distributions in a laboratory-scale Wurster fluid bed coater. The calculations show good agreement with data obtained using the positron emission particle tracking (PEPT) technique. The DEM-CFD simulations of different size particles show that large particles spend a longer time in the spray zone and in the Wurster tube than small particles. In addition, large particles are found on average to move closer to the spray nozzle than small particles, which implies that the large particles could shield small particles from the spray droplets. Both of these effects suggest that large particles receive a greater amount of coating solution per unit area per cycle than small particles. However, the simulations in combination with the PEPT experiments show that this is partly compensated for by a longer cycle time for large particles. Large particles thus receive more coating per unit area per pass through the spray zone, but also travel through the spray zone less frequently than small particles.

Natural rubber/cellulose nanocrystals (NR/CNCs) form true biocomposites from renewable resources and are demonstrated to show significantly improved thermo-mechanical properties and reduced stress-softening. The nanocomposites were prepared from chemically functionalized CNCs bearing thiols. CNCs served as both reinforcing and cross-linking agents in the NR matrix, and the study was designed to prove the cross-linking function of modified CNCs. CNCs were prepared from cotton, and the cross-linkable mercapto-groups were introduced onto the surface of CNCs by esterification. Nanocomposite films were prepared by dispersing the modified CNCs (m-CNCs) in NR matrix by solution casting. The cross-links at the filler-matrix (m-CNCs-NR) interface were generated by photochemically initiated thiol-ene reactions as monitored by real-time FTIR analysis. The synergistic effects of reinforcement and chemical cross-linking at the m-CNCs-NR interface on structure, thermo-mechanical, and stress-softening behavior were investigated. Methods included field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), swelling tests, dynamic mechanical analysis, and tensile tests. Compared to biocomposites from NR with unmodified CNCs, the NR/m-CNCs nanocomposites showed 2.4-fold increase in tensile strength, 1.6-fold increase in strain-to-failure, and 2.9-fold increase in work-of-fracture at 10 wt % of m-CNCs in NR.

Fluidized bed coating has been used to coat pellets or tablets with functional substances for a number of purposes. In this coating process, particle wetting, drying and film formation are coupled to particle motion. It is therefore of interest to study particle motion in such fluidized beds and to use the results to develop a model for predicting the quality of the final product. In this paper, we present results from DEM-CFD simulations, i.e. discrete element method and computational fluid dynamics simulations of particle motion in a laboratory-scale Wurster fluidized bed that was also employed in positron emission particle tracking (PEPT) experiments. As the drag force is the dominant interaction between the gas flow and the particle motion in this type of fluidized bed, the effect of drag models on the particle motion is investigated. More specifically, the particle velocity and residence time distributions of particles in different regions calculated from five different drag models are presented. It is found that the Gidaspow and Tang drag models predict both particle cycle and residence times well. The HKL and Beetstra drag models somewhat overestimate the particle velocity in the Wurster tube and therefore predict a reduced number of recirculations and a significantly shorter cycle time.

The wetting, penetration, and film formation of wheat gluten dispersions on porous wood substrates have been studied using different microscopy techniques. The effect variation of wheat gluten concentration, processing temperatures, dispersion composition, and the application scheme has been studied. The results have been correlated to previously obtained results on the function of wheat gluten dispersions as adhesive binders for particle boards. The results show that the dispersions readily penetrate the porous wood substrate and that the key parameters for a successful gluing are the dispersion viscosity, concentration, and the application scheme.

Oxetane terminated telechelic epoxyfunctional-polyesters as cationically polymerizable thermoset resins - tuning the reactivity with structural design

The present study investigates the ageing performance of a UV protective system for wood, comprising the reactive UV absorber 2-hydroxy-4(2,3-epoxypropoxy)-benzophenone (HEPBP) and epoxy functional ...

The objective of this study was to modify highly insulative and lightweight biorenewable foam thermosets to be semi-conductive for primarily building material applications. The foams were formed an ...

The majority of polyesters and polycarbonates are traditionally synthesized through conventional metal-based catalysis. Although effective, due to environmental concerns, their substitution for oth ...

This study describes the formulation, curing, and characterization of solid polymer electrolytes (SPE) based on plasticized poly(ethylene glycol)-methacrylate, intended for use in structural batteries that utilizes carbon fibers as electrodes. The effect of crosslink density, salt concentration, and amount of plasticizer has been investigated. Adding a plasticizing solvent increases the overall performance of the SPE. Increased ionic conductivity and mechanical performance can be attained compared to similar systems without plasticizer. At ambient temperature, ionic conductivity (σ) of 3.3 × 10−5 S cm−1, with a corresponding storage modulus (E′) of 20 MPa are reached. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017, 134, 44917.

Obtaining informed consent in clinical trials can be challenging both for researchers and for patients, albeit in different ways. The challenge concerns not only how to provide the needed information, but also what information to focus on when dealing with individual patients who have different goals, needs, histories, etc. This paper aims to contribute to a better informed consent process for Parkinson’s patients taking part in first-in-human clinical trials of cell replacement therapies. It outlines a range of problems which patients and researchers may face in this process and provides practical advice to researchers engaged in such trials.

Today's research on the cathodic arc deposition technique and coatings therefrom primarily focuses on the effects of, e.g., nitrogen partial pressure, growth temperature, and substrate bias. Detailed studies on the morphology and structure of the starting material—the cathode—during film growth and its influence on coating properties at different process conditions are rare. This work aims to study the evolution of the converted layer, its morphology, and microstructure, as a function of the cathode material grain size during deposition of Ti-Al-N coatings. The coatings were reactively grown in pure N2discharges from powder metallurgically manufactured Ti-50 at.% Al cathodes with grain size distribution averages close to 1800, 100, 50, and 10 μm, respectively, and characterized with respect to microstructure, composition, and mechanical properties. The results indicate that for the cathode of 1800 μm grain size the disparity in the work function among parent phases plays a dominant role in the pronounced erosion of Al, which yields the coatings rich in macro-particles and of high Al content. We further observed that a reduction in the grain size of Ti-50 at.% Al cathodes to 10 μm provides favorable conditions for self-sustaining reactions between Ti and Al phases upon arcing to form γ phase. The combination of self-sustaining reaction and the arc process not only result in the formation of hole-like and sub-hole features on the converted layer but also generate coatings of high Al content and laden with macro-particles. FunMat

Aromatic material constituents derived from renewable resources are attractive for new biobased polymer systems. Lignin, derived from lignocellulosic biomass, is the most abundant natural source of such structures. Technical lignins are, however, heterogeneous in both structure and polydispersity and require a refining to obtain a more reproducible material. In this paper the ethanol-soluble fraction of Lignoboost Kraft lignin is selectively allylated using allyl chloride by means of a mild and industrially scalable procedure. Analysis using1H-,31P-, and 2D HSQC NMR give a detailed structural description of lignin, providing evidence of its functionalization and that the suggested procedure is selective toward phenols with a conversion of at least 95%. The selectively modified lignin is subsequently cross-linked using thermally induced thiol-ene chemistry. FT-IR is utilized to confirm the cross-linking reaction, and DSC measurements determined the Tgof the thermosets to be 45-65 °C depending on reactive group stoichiometry. The potential of lignin as a constituent in a thermoset application is demonstrated and discussed.

Particle cycle and residence time distributions are critical factors in determining the coating quality in the Wurster process. Positron emission particle tracking experiments are performed to determine the cycle and residence times of particles in different regions of a Wurster fluid bed. The results show that particles tend to recirculate in and sneak out below from the Wurster tube. The experiments also show that a larger batch size leads to a shorter cycle time and a narrower cycle time distribution (CTD). It is possible to avoid recirculations and obtain a shorter cycle time and a narrower CTD by selecting the operating conditions appropriately or via equipment design. Experiments using binary mixtures of particles with a diameter ratio of 1.5 show that large particles have a longer cycle time than small particles and that the cycle time is shorter for mixtures with approximately equal amounts of small and large particles.

Across most of Europe, the countryside seems to show a polarized development in which large districts are depopulating, while certain areas, mainly around big- and mid-sized cities, are increasing ...

Nanocomposites with high volume fractions (15-50 vol%) of nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC) were prepared by impregnation of a wet porous NFC network with acetone/epoxy/amine solution. Infrared spectroscopy studies revealed a significant increase in curing rate of epoxy (EP) in the presence of NFC. The NFC provided extremely efficient reinforcement (at 15 vol%: 3-fold increase in stiffness and strength to 5.9 GPa and 109 MPa, respectively), and ductility was preserved. Besides, the glass transition temperature increased with increasing NFC content (from 68 degrees C in neat epoxy to 86 degrees C in 50 vol% composite). Most interestingly, the moisture sorption values were low and even comparable to neat epoxy for the 15 vol% NFC/EP. This material did not change mechanical properties at increased relative humidity (90% RH). Thus, NFC/EP provides a unique combination of high strength, modulus, ductility, and moisture stability for a cellulose-based biocomposite. Effects from nanostructural and interfacial tailoring are discussed. (C) 2014 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

This article examines the formative interaction between instrumental technique and musical style by analysing different approaches to the violin/fiddle. It is argued that technique is constitutive of style and that musical concepts are intimately related to the accumulated experience of sensations associated with handling the instrument in a particular way. The point of departure is the initially open nature of the violin's expressive affordances, and how these are defined through the interactivity between a performer and an instrument. Two cases are analysed with a focus on how an individual approaches the violin/fiddle in terms of technical solutions (including instrument hold, left-hand posture and bow hold) that are involved in the production of stylistic signatures. The analysis supports the argument that the violin/fiddle is a highly flexible technology, the expressive potential of which can only be assessed by considering the vast diversity of approaches with which the instrument is engaged.

The use of monomers based on natural materials as a future supply of raw materials has gained more interest in the last decade. Sources ranging from wood to plant oils and algae are exploited as al ...