Polymeric coating materials (PCMs) are promising candidates for developing next-generation flexible displays. However, PCMs are frequently subjected to external stimuli, making them highly ...susceptible to repeated damage. Therefore, in this study, a highly self-healing PCM based on a charge transfer complex (CTC) was developed, and its thermal, self-healing, and mechanical properties were examined. The self-healing material demonstrated improved thermal stability, fast self-healing kinetics (1 min), and a high self-healing efficiency (98.1%) via CTC-induced multiple interactions between the polymeric chains. In addition, it eliminated the trade-off between the mechanical strength and self-healing capability that is experienced by typical self-healing materials. The developed PCM achieved excellent self-healing and superior bulk (in-plane) and surface (out-of-plane) mechanical strengths compared to those of conventional engineering plastics such as polyether ether ketone (PEEK), polysulfone (PSU), and polyethersulfone (PES). These remarkable properties are attributed to the unique intermolecular structure resulting from strong CTC interactions. A mechanism for the improved self-healing and mechanical properties was also proposed by comparing the CTC-based self-healing PCMs with a non-CTC-based PCM.
All countries regulate CO
2
emissions, triggering similar evolution on powertrain at a similar pace all over the planet. Engine irregularities are more severe due to downsizing and uptorquing. ...Torsional filtration targets are also challenging powertrain performance. This drives powertrain market and more efficient torque transfer system. Conventional filtration solutions such as clutch/dampers and DMF have their own limitations. For the past few years the addtion of centrifugal pendulum absorber meets the required filtration target. The vehicle architecture and type of damper accompanying pendulum absorber contribute to the dynamic stability and performance. In this study, we have shown the behaviors of DMF pendulum in rear wheel driveline with six speed manual transmission. Normally the performance of a pendulum in high engine speed range is not so efficient compare to lower speed range. This study mainly focuses on variations on design parameters of pendulum, which enables better filtration in high speed range.
A functional polyurethane based on the heterocyclic group was synthesized and its self-healing and mechanical properties were examined. To synthesize a heterocyclic polyurethane, a polyol and a ...heterocyclic compound with di-hydroxyl groups at both ends were blended and the blended solution was reacted with a crosslinker containing multiple isocyanate groups. The heterocyclic polyurethane demonstrates better self-healing efficiency than the conventional polyurethane with no heterocyclic groups. Furthermore, unlike the conventional self-healing materials, the heterocyclic polyurethane examined in this study shows an outstanding recovery of the mechanical properties after the self-healing process. These results are attributed to the unique supramolecular network resulting from the strong hydrogen bonding interaction between the urethane group and the heterocyclic group in the heterocyclic polyurethane matrix.
Background and Objectives: EUS-guided tissue acquisition with rapid on-site cytologic evaluation (ROSE) has been used to increase the diagnostic yield. However, ROSE is not available in many centers. ...To date, only a few studies have assessed the adequacy of histologic cores in macroscopic on-site evaluation (MOSE) during EUS-guided fine-needle biopsy (EUS-FNB). Blood contamination of histologic core specimens lowers the sample quality and the diagnostic yield. Therefore, we evaluated the efficacy of MOSE using filter paper to increase the adequacy of histologic core specimens while minimizing blood contamination. Materials and Methods: Seventy-nine consecutive patients with an intraabdominal mass underwent EUS-FNB between March 2017 and October 2018. Histologic specimens obtained using EUS-FNB were expelled onto filter paper, and the histologic procurement rate on MOSE was evaluated. Results: EUS-FNB using a 20-gauge Procore needle or a 22-gauge Acquire needle was successful in all patients. The mean number of needle passes was 2.8 ss0.8. Visible histologic cores were observed in 94.9% (75/79) of the patients. Blood-contaminated specimens with scanty histologic cores were obtained in 5.1% (4/79) of the patients. On microscopic examination, 92.4% (73/79) of the histologic samples were graded as optimal. The diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity were 94.5%, 94.3%, and 100%, respectively. Mild postprocedural adverse events occurred in 2 patients (2.5%: n = 1, transient fever; n = 1, acute pancreatitis). Conclusions: MOSE using filter paper provided adequate histologic samples while minimizing blood contamination. MOSE can also increase the diagnostic accuracy when ROSE is not available.
The improvement of conductivity is a key factor in application of conducting polymer to elec- tronic devices. The conductivity enhancement of
PSS films were observed after dipping in polar organic ...solvents, including DMSO, ethylene glycol, glycerol and IPA. The conductivity of
PSS films increased from 0.5 S/cm to over 800 S/cm, that is, by a factor of more than 1,600. The conductivity enhancement was dependent on the type of organic solvents and dipping time of
PSS into solvent. The enhancement of conductivity may be caused by the phase separation between PEDOT chains and PSS counter anions.
We introduced a benzothiadiazole unit into a small molecule conjugated system and determined the electronic features and organic photovoltaic cell (OPV) characteristics of the resulting material, ...4,7-bis(5′-hexyl-2,2′-bithiophene-5-yl)benzothiadiazole (
DH5TB).
DH5TB showed remarkably red-shifted UV–vis absorption and photoluminescence (PL) emission spectra compared with α,α′-dihexyl-quinquethiophene (
DH5T). The low energy band gap of 1.95
eV and good film morphology of
DH5TB resulted in good OPV performance. We investigated the
DH5TB:C
60 blend ratio dependence on OPV performance and further improved the efficiency by introducing a C
60 interlayer on top of the
DH5TB:C
60 layer. In the present work, the best photovoltaic cells had a
J
SC of 4.75
mA/cm
2, a
V
OC of 0.53
V, and a fill factor (FF) of 0.38, giving a power conversion efficiency of 0.97% under AM 1.5 (100
m/cm
2) without thermal annealing.
Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) has been established as a safe and accurate method for diagnosing and staging intra-abdominal mass. However, few studies investigated its ...feasibility, efficacy, and safety for targeting liver mass. We evaluated the efficacy and safety of EUS-FNA in patients with liver masses including the right lobe.
The technical feasibility, safety, and diagnostic yield were determined in 47 patients (30 in the left lobe and 17 in the right lobe) presenting with liver masses between September 2010 and February 2016.
Thirty-eight patients (80.9%) had malignancies whereas nine patients (19.1%) had benign liver masses. Technical success rate was 97.9% (46/47). EUS-FNA was diagnostic in 38 of 42 patients (90.5%). When the outcomes of EUS-FNA between right liver mass and left mass were accessed, the technical success rates were similar in both lobes (100% vs. 94.1%, P= 0.2). The median tumor size on EUS (25.5 mm, interquartile range IQR 13.8-30.3 vs. 28 mm, IQR 18.5-43.5, P= 0.24) and number of needle passes (3, IQR 3-4 vs. 3, IQR 3-3, P= 0.24) were not significantly different. Adequate specimen obtained was statistically higher in the left lobe (28/30, 93.3% vs. 14/17, 82.4%, P= 0.04). However, diagnostic accuracy for liver masses was not different (25/28, 89.3% vs. 13/14, 92.9%, P= 0.86). No complications developed after procedure.
EUS-FNA can be a safe and efficient method for the diagnosis of liver mass and it is technically feasible even for those in the right lobe.
Graphene sheets were produced by chemical reduction of graphite oxides in the solution of ionic conductive polymer, Nafion. The obtained graphene, coated with Nafion, can be re-dispersed in water, ...and readily forms stable dispersed state. The polymer-coated graphene had been characterized by FT-IR spectroscopy, UV–vis and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The PEDOT film with Nafion-coated graphene increased significantly from 0.25
S/cm for pure PEDOT film and reached 12
S/cm. Further, the films of PEDOT doped Nafion-coated graphene had also higher conductivities compared to films doped PSS-coated graphene.
The effect of thymine as a buffer layer has been examined on the performance of organic photodetectors. As the decreasing dark current with incorporation of buffer layer, a significant increase in ...detectivity for the devices is observed. The buffer layer of thymine improves the device performance by blocking charge transport at the buffer layer-active layer interface and forming a smooth surface of the ZnO. The best OPD performance was obtained for 5 nm thickness of buffer layer, with dark current of 2.19 x 10
−8
A/cm
2
and detectivity of 3.29 x 10
12
Jones at −1 V.