This study presents the development of conductive polymer-textile composites with outstanding electric heating properties achieved through the in-situ polymerization of polypyrrole on wool-felt ...fabrics, renowned for their superior thermal insulation. Employing successive layer-by-layer (LBL) cycles facilitated precise control over the uniform deposition of polypyrrole with the fabrics. The investigation focused on the interaction between wool fiber and polypyrrole, evaluating appearance, add-on, and electrical heating performance with varying LBL cycles. The polymerization process resulted in the formation of spherical polypyrrole particles on the wool-felt, with deposition increasing alongside LBL cycle numbers. Mechanical properties, including tensile strength and bending rigidity, exhibited enhancement with polypyrrole deposition, while strain reduction was noted, with minimal influence from LBL cycles. Electrical properties, particularly surface resistance, displayed a rapid decrease up to the second LBL cycle. Concerning electrical heating performance, the application of a 12 V voltage resulted in a linear increase in surface temperature with increasing LBL cycles, peaking at 15.5 ℃. Notably, this sustained electrical heating effect persisted even after voltage removal, attributed to the low thermal conductivity of wool fiber. Moreover, the polypyrrole conductive layer maintained exceptional conductivity following repeated abrasion and washing, credited to improved uniformity through LBL cycles. The synergy of wool's insulating properties and polypyrrole's conductivity, as confirmed in this study, presents the potential for a highly efficient heating fabric. These developed materials exhibited improved heating performance, energy conservation, and minimal change in mechanical properties, making them suitable for applications such as electrical heating smart clothing.
In this study, the relationship between the functionality and comfort of conductive fabrics for smart clothing is investigated by examining changes in the mechanical, electrical, and comfort ...properties of knitted fabrics based on the blending ratio of conductive yarns. Hence, flat knitted fabrics of the same structure are manufactured using polyester and silver-coated polyamide yarns. Subsequently, their weight, thickness, tensile strength, tensile strain, bending rigidity, breathability, surface properties are measured, and their cool touch feeling, surface resistance, and electrical heating performance are evaluated. Because the strength and specific gravity of a silver-coated conductive yarn are high, with an increase in its blending ratio, its weight, tensile strength, and bending rigidity increase, whereas its strain decreases. In terms of the comfort properties, the air permeability increases as the blending ratio of the conductive yarn increases, because the pores on the surface of the knitted fabric are increased structurally owing to the conductive yarns. However, the water vapor transmission rate remains unchanged. Meanwhile, the surface roughness does not change significantly in the wale direction; however, it increases in the course direction as the blending ratio of the conductive yarn increases. The recoverability from compression decreases, and the work of compression increases as the blending ratio of the conductive yarn increases. This implies that the conductive fabric can be compressed easily but is less likely to recover from compression. Changes in the surface roughness and compression property show that the hand value of the knitted fabric is altered by the insertion of the conductive yarn. The electrical properties improved by increasing the blending ratio of the conductive yarns. In particular, even with only 33% insertion of conductive yarns, extremely good electrical properties are obtained, that is, low resistance, sensitive resistance change due to stretching, and heating of 48°C. Therefore, blending conventional and conductive yarns instead of using only conductive yarns improve comfort and wearability when applying conductive knitted fabrics to smart clothing.
In this study, a new green synthesis method for two-dimensional (2D) copper nanosheets is developed using methylsulfonylmethane (DMSO
). The chemical composition and light absorption of 2D copper ...nanosheets are also studied. A new green method is mainly to utilize DMSO
, which is environmentally friendly enough to be considered a food-grade chemical, unlike the conventional method using toxic chemicals, such as ammonia and hydrazine (N
H
). With a reducing agent, the aggregation of uncertain copper products was produced in the absence of DMSO
, while 2D copper nanosheets were formed in the presence of DMSO
. The optimum concentration of DMSO
as a surfactant was determined to be 2 M, resulting in large surface areas with regular edges. FTIR spectrum confirmed C-H bonding from DMSO
used to synthesize 2D copper nanosheets. The light absorption peak was revealed at 800 nm in the UV-vis spectrum. This proposed new green method not only has a simpler process than the conventional methods, such as hydrothermal method and chemical bath deposition, but also substitutes toxic chemicals with DMSO
. 2D copper nanosheets can be used for various applications, including conductive filler or ink in the flexible electronics and laser photonics fields.
Copper nanowires and Cu-Ag nanowires have various potential applications, such as transparent conductive film, flexible electronics, and conductive filler. In this study, we developed a new green ...fabrication method for silver-coated copper nanowires using methylsulfonylmethane (DMSO
), which is an environmentally friendly chemical at the food-grade level, to replace toxic chemicals, including ammonia, in the silver coating process. Copper nanowires were synthesized under various reaction temperatures and concentrations of hydrazine (N
H
), ethylenediamine (EDA), sodium hydroxide (NaOH), and copper precursor. The reaction temperature higher than 70 °C caused the oxidation of copper products and evaporation of the sample solution. The optimal conditions to synthesize copper nanowires more than 18 µm in length and 25-45 nm in diameter were determined: 9 M of NaOH, 50 µL of EDA, 17 mM of CuCl
, 5.7 mM of N
H
, and 70 °C reaction temperature. Cu-Ag nanowires, which have about a 12 nm thick silver shell, were successfully fabricated at room temperature under 1 mM of silver nitrate (AgNO
) and 1 wt % of DMSO
. Synthesis conditions for copper and silver-coated copper nanowires have been optimized.
Fat stranding is a non-specific finding of an increased fat attenuation on computed tomography (CT) images. Fat stranding is used for detecting the underlying lesion in humans.
To assess the clinical ...significance of fat stranding on CT images for identifying the underlying cause in dogs and cats.
In this retrospective study, the incidence, location, extent, distribution, and pattern of fat stranding were assessed on CT studies obtained from 134 cases.
Fat stranding was found in 38% (51/134) of all cases and in 35% (37/107) of tumors, which was significantly higher in malignant tumors (44%) than benign tumors (12%). Moreover, fat stranding was found in more than two areas in malignant tumors (16/33) and in a single area in benign tumors (4/4). In inflammation, fat stranding was demonstrated in 54% (7/13) in a single area (7/7) as a focal distribution (6/7). In trauma, fat stranding was revealed in 50% (7/14) and most were in multiple areas (6/7). Regardless of the etiologies, fat stranding was always around the underlying lesion and a reticular pattern was the most common presentation. Logistic regression analysis revealed that multiple areas (
= 0.040) of fat stranding and a reticulonodular pattern (
= 0.022) are the significant predictors of malignant tumor.
These findings indicated that CT fat stranding can be used as a clue for identifying the underlying lesion and can be useful for narrowing the differential list based on the extent and pattern.
This study attempted to develop a superhydrophobic conductive fabric to solve the problem of functional deterioration due to oxidation of conductive fabrics. To this end, a superhydrophobic surface ...was achieved by introducing nano-roughness to the surface of the polyester-conductive fabric by using alkaline hydrolysis, and then lowering the surface energy through hydrophobic coating. In order to derive optimal processing conditions with excellent superhydrophobicity while maintaining conductivity and mechanical properties, changes in surface structure, conductivity, superhydrophobicity and durability of conductivity against air and water were evaluated according to alkaline hydrolysis duration. As the alkaline hydrolysis duration increased, the polyester surface was etched and the silver oxide particles formed on the conductive yarns, creating non-uniform nano-roughness. The weight, tensile strength, and strain of the conductive fabric decreased due to alkaline hydrolysis, and the change was noticeable after 30 min of alkaline hydrolysis. In addition, as the alkaline hydrolysis duration increased, the surface resistance of the conductive fabric slightly increased and the surface temperature by electric heating performance decreased, but it still showed excellent conductivity. After 30 min of alkaline hydrolysis, a contact angle of more than 150 and a shedding angle of less than 10 achieved a superhydrophobic surface. This superhydrophobic surface prevented the reaction of silver with air or water in spite of prolonged exposure to air and repeated contact with water to maintain electrical properties, thereby improving the durability of conductivity. This study is significant in that it achieved dual roughness for superhydrophobicity on the surface of conductive fabrics using a relatively easy and simple method by applying alkaline hydrolysis, which is commonly used with polyester fabric. Therefore, it is expected to solve the problem of conductivity loss of the use of conductive fabric in various environments.
A superhydrophobic conductive fabric is developed to solve the problem of functional deterioration due to oxidation by air and water through alkaline hydrolysis and hydrophobic coating.
In this study, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were introduced into carbon fiber (CF) wet-laid composites as functional nano-fillers to fabricate multi-functional composites with improved mechanical, ...electrical, and thermal properties. It was considered that the wet-laid process was most suitable in order to introduce filler into brittle and rigid carbon fiber substrates, and we established the conditions of the process that could impart dispersibility and bonding between the fibers. We introduced polyamide 6 (PA6) short fiber, which is the same polymeric material as the stacking film, into carbon fiber and CNT mixture to enhance the binding interactions between carbon fiber and CNTs. Various types of CNT-reinforced carbon fiber wet-laid composites with PA6 short fibers were prepared, and the morphology, mechanical and electrical properties of the composites were estimated. As CNT was added to the carbon fiber nonwoven, the electrical conductivity increased by 500% but the tensile strength decreased slightly. By introducing short fibers of the same material as the matrix between CNT–CF wet-laid nonwovens, it was possible to find optimum conditions to increase the electrical conductivity while maintaining mechanical properties.
This study seeks to analyze the effect of geometric structures of weft-knitted fabrics on superhydrophobicity and the dynamic behavior of water droplets. A flat knitting machine with different stitch ...patterns was used to prepare 100% polyester knitted fabrics. For the superhydrophobic surface, nano-roughness through alkaline treatment and a hydrophobic coating were introduced on prepared knitted fabrics. To analyze micro-roughness, pore size, cover factor, surface roughness, and air permeability were measured. Surface wettability was evaluated by contact and shedding angle measurements, and the dynamic behavior of droplets.
Micro-roughness was greater in the order of tuck, purl, and plain jersey stitch patterns with a small cover factor and large pore size. In addition, tuck and purl stitches showed differences in surface roughness according to the wale and course directions. Nano-roughness was discernible as the alkaline treatment time increased. Following an evaluation of the wettability, the purl stitches exhibited a contact angle of 150° or more with only the hydrophobic coating. After imparting nano-roughness by alkaline treatment, the contact angle was more than 150° in all the samples. In the case of shedding angle, the tuck and purl stitches showed differences according to the course and wale directions. The shedding angle was lower when the roughness was high and the ridge and the droplet sliding directions were parallel. This difference decreased as the nano-roughness increased according to the alkaline treatment time. An evaluation of the dynamic behavior of water droplets on the superhydrophobic knitted fabric showed that rebound behavior appeared in all the samples on the horizontal surface, when the water droplet was small. However, with large droplets, the rebound behavior appeared only in purl stitches. Meanwhile, on the surface inclined at 15°, rebound behavior was observed in the tuck and purl stitches, with the tuck stitches rebounding faster in the wale direction and the purl stitches in the course direction regardless of the droplet volume. The plain jersey stitches showed pinning behavior after water droplets fell on the surface. Therefore, it is important not only to introduce nano-roughness but also properly to form geometrical micro-roughness of knitted fabric with pores and loops to induce rebound behavior of water droplets.
Mutations in glucocerebrosidase (GBA) cause Gaucher disease (GD) and increase the risk of developing Parkinson's disease (PD) and Dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB). Since both genetic and environmental ...factors contribute to the pathogenesis of sporadic PD, we investigated the susceptibility of nigrostriatal dopamine (DA) neurons in L444P GBA heterozygous knock-in (GBA
) mice to 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP), a selective dopaminergic mitochondrial neurotoxin.
We used GBA
mice, α-synuclein knockout (SNCA
) mice at 8 months of age, and adeno-associated virus (AAV)-human GBA overexpression to investigate the rescue effect of DA neuronal loss and susceptibility by MPTP. Mitochondrial morphology and functional assay were used to identify mitochondrial defects in GBA
mice. Motor behavioral test, immunohistochemistry, and HPLC were performed to measure dopaminergic degeneration by MPTP and investigate the relationship between GBA mutation and α-synuclein. Mitochondrial immunostaining, qPCR, and Western blot were also used to study the effects of α-synuclein knockout or GBA overexpression on MPTP-induced mitochondrial defects and susceptibility.
L444P GBA heterozygous mutation reduced GBA protein levels, enzymatic activity and a concomitant accumulation of α-synuclein in the midbrain of GBA
mice. Furthermore, the deficiency resulted in defects in mitochondria of cortical neurons cultured from GBA
mice. Notably, treatment with MPTP resulted in a significant loss of dopaminergic neurons and striatal dopaminergic fibers in GBA
mice compared to wild type (WT) mice. Levels of striatal DA and its metabolites were more depleted in the striatum of GBA
mice. Behavioral deficits, neuroinflammation, and mitochondrial defects were more exacerbated in GBA
mice after MPTP treatment. Importantly, MPTP induced PD-like symptoms were significantly improved by knockout of α-synuclein or augmentation of GBA via AAV5-hGBA injection in both WT and GBA
mice. Intriguingly, the degree of reduction in MPTP induced PD-like symptoms in GBA
α-synuclein (SNCA)
mice was nearly equal to that in SNCA
mice after MPTP treatment.
Our results suggest that GBA deficiency due to L444P GBA heterozygous mutation and the accompanying accumulation of α-synuclein render DA neurons more susceptible to MPTP intoxication. Thus, GBA and α-synuclein play dual physiological roles in the survival of DA neurons in response to the mitochondrial dopaminergic neurotoxin, MPTP.
Ganoderma lucidum is a popular medicinal mushroom used in traditional medicine for preventing or treating a variety of diseases. In the present study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory and heme ...oxygenase (HO)-1 inducing effects of 12 lanostane triterpenes from G. lucidum in RAW264.7 cells. Of these, seven triterpenes, butyl lucidenateE2, butyl lucidenateD2 (GT-2), butyl lucidenate P, butyl lucidenateQ, Ganoderiol F, methyl ganodenate J and butyl lucidenate N induced HO-1 expression and suppressed lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide (NO) production. Inhibiting HO-1 activity abrogated the inhibitory effects of these triterpenes on the production of NO in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells, suggesting the involvement of HO-1 in the anti-inflammatory effects of these triterpenes. We further studied the anti-inflammatory and HO-1 inducing effects of GT-2. Mitogen-activated protein kinase inhibitors or N-acetylcysteine, an antioxidant, did not suppress GT-2-mediated HO-1 induction; however, LY294002, a phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor, blocked GT-2-induced HO-1 mRNA and protein expression. GT-2 increased nuclear translocation of nuclear factor-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and knockdown of Nrf2 by small interfering RNA blocked GT-2-mediated HO-1 induction, suggesting that GT-2 induced HO-1 expression via the PI3K/AKT-Nrf2 pathway. Consistent with the notion that HO-1 has anti-inflammatory properties, GT-2 inhibited the production of tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-6, as well as inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 expression. These findings suggest that HO-1 inducing activities of these lanostane triterpenes may be important in the understanding of a novel mechanism for the anti-inflammatory activity of G. lucidum.
•The anti-inflammatory effects of selected triterpenes from Ganoderma lucidum are demonstrated.•Heme oxygenase-1 induction is attributable to the anti-inflammatory properties of these triterpenes.•The triterpenes induce heme oxygenase-1 expression via the AKT-Nrf2 pathway.•The mechanism explains the anti-inflammatory effect of triterpenes from G. lucidum.
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