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L'objectif était de rapporter un résumé des recommandations de bonnes pratiques sur la consultation écoresponsable ainsi que des actions concrètes de mise en place. Ce travail est basé (1) sur les données disponibles dans la littérature sur les actions écoresponsables qui peuvent être mises en place dans un service de consultation en urologie ; (2) sur les travaux de la commission développement durable de l'AFU, et (3) sur un retour d'expérience bicentrique des services d'urologie de l'hôpital Nord à Marseille et l'hôpital Privé Francheville à Périgueux. Ce travail de synthèse illustre les actions écoresponsables pouvant être mise en place en cabinet, impliquant les domaines de l'énergie, de la bureautique, du transport soignant et patient, la gestion des déchets, ainsi que les données environnementales disponibles lors des actes réalisés en consultation : retrait de sonde JJ, cystoscopie, champage et décontamination. De nombreuses actions permettent d'optimiser l'impact environnemental de notre service de consultation. Le déploiement de ces méthodes implique différents partenaires et une sensibilisation de l'ensemble des équipes est primordiale pour des résultats probants. The aim was to present a summary of best practice recommendations for sustainable consultations, with concrete actions to be implemented. This work is based on (1) the data available in the literature on the sustainable actions that can be implemented in a urology consultation department; (2) the work of the AFU sustainability commission, and (3) the bi-centric feedback from the urology departments of the Hôpital Nord in Marseille and the Hôpital Privé Francheville in Périgueux. This summary illustrates the sustainable actions that can be implemented within the practice, covering the areas of energy, office automation, nursing and patient transport, waste management, as well as the environmental data available for the procedures carried out in consultation: removal of the JJ catheter, cystoscopy, draping and decontamination. There are a number of actions that can be taken to optimise the environmental impact of our consultation service. Deploying these methods involves a number of partners, and raising the awareness of all our teams is essential if we are to achieve convincing results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The resistance gene Lr34 conditions durable disease resistance to many biotrophic wheat pathogens and has been incorporated into many wheat cultivars throughout the world. Lr67 is a similar adult plant resistance gene that also conditions resistance to multiple wheat diseases. Both genes significantly reduce disease severity and work in an additive manner with other rust resistance genes. To determine the effect of Lr34 and Lr67 on Fusarium head blight (FHB), two doubled haploid populations, segregating for each of these genes, were developed in the Thatcher wheat background by crossing near‐isogenic lines. Progeny from these populations were tested in five Fusarium graminearum‐inoculated disease nurseries and assessed for FHB symptoms, using a visual rating index (VRI), and deoxynivalenol (DON) accumulation. Both Lr34 and Lr67 significantly reduced visual symptoms of FHB and DON overall, though those effects were not significant in all environments. The overall reduction in the group of progeny with the resistant allele compared to the group with the susceptible allele for VRI was 9.4% for Lr34 and 6.8% for Lr67, while for DON it was 16.4% for Lr34 and 14.9% for Lr67. These genes represent important tools for improving resistance to FHB and many other diseases in wheat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flexible metal-based electrodes with stable resistance and low crack growth rates have important application value in the field of tactile electronic skin, but their breathable performance and durability are at a low level. S-shaped metal nanonetwork electrodes, based on S-shaped nanofiber substrates, are capable of achieving high breathability, excellent electrical properties, and stretch-resistant mechanical properties, simultaneously. Current manufacturing methods of S-shaped nanofiber substrates all suffer from various disadvantages, and they almost all use subtractive fabrications with complex processes and have environmental pollution. Here, in order to prepare durable and breathable tactile e-skin with environmentally friendly, low-cost, and efficient manufacture, a nanofiber-patterned additive manufacturing method is proposed. This additive manufacturing method is based on electrospinning to redesign the collection terminal. Through the design and dimensional optimization of the stacked electrodes, a pronounced electric field gradient forms on the upper surface of the collection terminal. This electric field gradient serves to induce the deposition of nanofibers within the targeted S-shaped pattern area. This one-step additive manufacturing method avoids complex processes, material waste, and chemical pollution, simultaneously enabling nanofibers of S-shaped substrates to have highly integrated structural characteristics. As a result, this durable tactile electronic skin, fabricated by this additive manufacturing method, can achieve sensitive tactile perception while ensuring normal evaporation of sweat on the skin surface and heat dissipation of the body. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the low adhesion observed at the interface between solid and liquid, superhydrophobic coatings hold significant promise for various applications, such as self-cleaning, anti-corrosion, anti-icing, and drag reduction. However, a notable challenge hindering their widespread adoption in these domains lies in their delicate durability. In this study, we propose a straightforward method for preparation. The fluorosilicone resin is initially discretized through a gradual introduction of nonsolvent into its solution, followed by thorough mixing and stirring with silica nanoparticles. The resulting mixture is then sprayed onto the substrate surface after drying, forming a self-similar, porous, and rough structure extending from top to bottom. This process yields a coating exhibiting excellent chemical and mechanical durability simultaneously. Using this approach, we achieved a superhydrophobic coating with a contact angle of 156° and a roll angle of 2.2°, with water droplet adhesion of only 10.8 ± 0.4 µN. Remarkably, the coating maintained excellent superhydrophobicity even after undergoing sandpaper abrasion (10 m), tape peeling (30 times), and prolonged water impact (60 min), showing its robust mechanical stability. Furthermore, following exposure to acid, alkali, and aqueous solutions (7 days), UV irradiation (10 days), and extreme temperature variations (–20 °C to 80 °C), the coatings retained their superhydrophobic properties and exhibited good chemical durability. This method offers a novel approach to enhance the durability and practicality of superhydrophobic coatings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background In healthcare facilities, the significance of sensitive architecture cannot be overstated. In regions facing challenges such as Egypt, the healthcare sector is grappling with deteriorating conditions. The design of hospitals is crucial for addressing the needs of patients with varying illnesses and for creating an environment that fosters psychological well-being. The interior design process, especially the selection of materials, plays a pivotal role in ensuring a hygienic and safe environment within healthcare facilities. Walls, floors, ceilings, and furniture materials are key elements that contribute to the overall design. A study was conducted to investigate the application of nano materials in healthcare facility interior design in Egypt. Methods The study involved first a literature review on nano technology and its application in healthcare interior spaces. It culminated in a framework and guidelines for nano materials in different hospital zones. The analytical part of the study analysed successful international examples, leading to a checklist of nanomaterials categorized by hospital zones. The third part involved a base case study in Alexandria, Egypt, simulating the impact of nano coatings on air temperature, radiant temperature, and relative humidity using the DesignBuilder software. Results The results demonstrated a positive impact on patient health and thermal comfort with nano materials. The use of nano coatings in interior design finishes resulted in decreases in air temperature, radiant temperature, and relative humidity. There was an average decrease of 12.3%-16.7% in air temperature, 3%-4.2% in radiant temperature, and 7%-12% in relative humidity throughout the year. Conclusions The study highlighted the effectiveness of nano technology in enhancing the interior finishes of healthcare buildings, leading to improved patient health, thermal comfort, and decreased infection spread rate. We provide valuable recommendations for optimizing material selection in existing hospital buildings in emphasizing potential benefits of nano materials in healthcare facility design.

A halogen-free and formaldehyde-free phosphorus-nitrogen synergistic flame retardant, pentaethylenehexaamine phosphoramidite ammonium phosphonate (APPEHA), was synthesized and characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance and Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. FT-IR and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy showed that APPEHA was grafted onto the cotton fabric by P(=O)–O–C covalent bonds. The stability of P(=O)–N and P(=O)–O–C covalent bonds was greatly improved due to the p-π conjugation of phosphamide groups in APPEHA. The cotton fabric treated with 30 wt% APPEHA solution could be washed 50 laundry cycles according to AATCC 61-2013 3 A standard, and the limiting oxygen index only decreased from 48.9 to 42.7%. The results of the vertical combustion test, thermogravimetric (TG) analysis, cone calorimetry and TG-FTIR tests showed that APPEHA promoted the dehydration and charring of cotton fabric and exhibited a synergistic flame-retardant mechanism. Analysis of surface morphology, element content, and crystal structure showed that APPEHA penetrated cotton fabric without greatly affecting the surface morphology or crystal structure of the cotton fiber. After flame retardant finishing, the softness and breaking strength of the cotton fabric were retained. The results showed that APPEHA could be used as a durable flame retardant for cotton fabrics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The deployment of disease resistance genes is currently the most economical and environmentally sustainable method of crop protection. However, disease resistance genes can rapidly break down because of constant pathogen evolution, particularly when they are deployed singularly. Polygenic resistance is, therefore, considered the most durable, but combining and maintaining these genes by breeding is a laborious process as effective genes are usually unlinked. The deployment of polygenic resistance with single-locus inheritance is a promising innovation that overcomes these difficulties while enhancing resistance durability. Because of major advances in genomic technologies, increasing numbers of plant resistance genes have been cloned, enabling the development of resistance transgene stacks (RTGSs) that encode multiple genes all located at a single genetic locus. Gene stacks encoding five stem rust resistance genes have now been developed in transgenic wheat and offer both breeding simplicity and potential resistance durability. The development of similar genomic resources in phytopathogens has advanced effector gene isolation and, in some instances, enabled functional validation of individual resistance genes in RTGS. Here, the wheat stem rust pathosystem is used as an illustrative example of how host and pathogen genomic advances have been instrumental in the development of RTGS, which is a strategy applicable to many other agricultural crop species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An unconjugated composite peptide vaccine targeting multiple conserved influenza epitopes from hemagglutinin, neuraminidase, and matrix protein and formulated with a safe and highly potent adjuvant, Army Liposome formulation (ALFQ), generated broad and durable immune responses in outbred mice. The antibodies recognized specific epitopes in influenza peptides and several human, avian, and swine influenza viruses. Comparable antibody responses to influenza viruses were observed with intramuscular and intradermal routes of vaccine administration. The peptide vaccine induced cross-reactive antibodies that recognized influenza virus subtypes A/H1N1, A/H3N2, A/H5N1, B/Victoria, and B/Yamagata. In addition, immune sera neutralized seasonal and pandemic influenza strains (Group 1 and Group 2). This composite multi-epitope peptide vaccine, formulated with ALFQ and administered via intramuscular and intradermal routes, provides a high-performance supra-seasonal vaccine that would be cost-effective and easily scalable, thus moving us closer to a viable strategy for a universal influenza vaccine and pandemic preparedness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The exploitation of high‐performance, durable, and low‐cost oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) electrocatalysts is crucial for energy storage and convert devices. Herein, a core‐shell structured catalyst (FeNx@graphite carbon) is developed by coaxial electrospinning. The resulting nanofibers combines the distinguished activity of FeNx and the good conductivity and stability of graphite carbon. This unique core‐shell structure with potential synergistic interaction leads to high activity and outstanding stability. As an excellent cathode catalyst for the Zn‐air battery, FeNx@graphite carbon displays an outstanding open‐circuit voltage (1.592 V), a high peak power density (100 mW cm−2) and stable rechargeability (30 h), outperforming that of Pt/C assembled Zn‐air battery. Our work provides a guide to rational design for achieving both high ORR activity and good stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For smart textiles and multifunctional wearable electronic devices, it is mandatory to fabricate high efficient and durable fine electroconductive patterns as circuits and elements. In this study, a fast method has been presented to direct writing of desired durable electroconductive patterns on textiles by using laser scribing of graphene oxide (GO) coatings. Laser CO2 is used to produce fast, direct, high resolution and three‐dimensional (3D) patterns of crosslinked reduced graphene oxide (LCrGO) on polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fabric. The choice of this method ensured a high electrical conductivity along with great durability that makes the final fabric as great structure for fine multifunctional wearable electronic devices. X‐ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy and field emission scanning electron microscope have been used to characterize the structure and morphology of LCrGO patterns on PET fabric. The sheet resistance of the LCrGO patterns on PET fabrics decreased associated with the increase of laser power as a main source of in situ photochemical/thermal reduction. The sheet resistance for the best LCrGO patterns was about 3.7 kΩ/sq that can be used in different smart and wearable electronic devices. After washings and exposure to mechanical deformation cycles, the patterns showed good conductivity retention of about 90%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background:Deficits in cognition, social cognition, and motivation are significant predictors of poor functional outcomes in schizophrenia. Evidence of durable benefit following social cognitive training is limited. We previously reported the effects of 70 h of targeted cognitive training supplemented with social cognitive exercises (TCT + SCT) verses targeted cognitive training alone (TCT). Here, we report the effects six months after training. Methods:111 participants with schizophrenia spectrum disorders were randomly assigned to TCT + SCT or TCT-only. Six months after training, thirty-four subjects (18 TCT + SCT, 16 TCT-only) were assessed on cognition, social cognition, reward processing, symptoms, and functioning. Intent to treat analyses was used to test the durability of gains, and the association of gains with improvements in functioning and reward processing were tested. Results:Both groups showed durable improvements in multiple cognitive domains, symptoms, and functional capacity. Gains in global cognition were significantly associated with gains in functional capacity. In the TCT + SCT group, participants showed durable improvements in prosody identification and reward processing, relative to the TCT-only group. Gains in reward processing in the TCT + SCT group were significantly associated with improvements in social functioning. Conclusions:Both TCT + SCT and TCT-only result in durable improvements in cognition, symptoms, and functional capacity six months post-intervention. Supplementing TCT with social cognitive training offers greater and enduring benefits in prosody identification and reward processing. These results suggest that novel cognitive training approaches that integrate social cognitive exercises may lead to greater improvements in reward processing and functioning in individuals with schizophrenia.

Cette recherche porte sur la gouvernance du patrimoine forestier de la RDC. L’attention est essentiellement portée sur l’exploitation et la gestion durable. Cette recherche commence par mettre en évidence l’étendue de la RDC et son immense massif forestier. Elle revient largement sur la problématique de l’exploitation de la forêt. Cette recherche insiste sur la mise en valeur du potentiel forestier et son exploitation de manière durable afin de répondre aux besoins croissants de la population congolaise caractérisée par une forte démographie, de contribuer au développement socio-économique du pays et de contribuer au maintien de la biodiversité et de l’équilibre de l’écosystème. Elle décrit la forêt équatoriale à l’aide de la cartographie, son exploitation par les différentes statistiques disponibles ainsi que le mécanisme à mettre en place pour assurer la gestion durable en RDC.

In this work, a durable superhydrophobic fabric was fabricated by using a facile UV-induced surface covalent modification strategy. 2-isocyanatoethylmethacrylate (IEM) containing isocyanate groups can react with the pre-treated hydroxylated fabric, producing IEM molecules covalently grafted onto the fabric's surface, and the double bonds of IEM and dodecafluoroheptyl methacrylate (DFMA) underwent a photo-initiated coupling reaction under UV light radiation, resulting in the DFMA molecules further grafting onto the fabric's surface. The Fourier transform infrared, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy results revealed that both IEM and DFMA were covalently grafted onto the fabric's surface. The formed rough structure and grafted low-surface-energy substance contributed to the excellent superhydrophobicity (water contact angle of ~162°) of the resultant modified fabric. Notably, such a superhydrophobic fabric can be used for efficient oil–water separation, for example a high separation efficiency of over 98%. More importantly, the modified fabric exhibited excellent durable superhydrophobicity in harsh conditions such as immersion in organic solvents for 72 h, an acidic or alkali solution (pH = 1–12) for 48 h, undergoing laundry washing for 3 h, exposure to extreme temperatures (from −196° to 120°), as well as damage such as 100 cycles of tape-peeling and a 100-cycle abrasion test; the water contact angle only slightly decreased from ~162° to 155°. This was attributed to the IEM and DFMA molecules grated onto the fabric through stable covalent interactions, which could be accomplished using the facile strategy, where the alcoholysis of isocyanate and the grafting of DFMA via click coupling chemistry were integrated into one-step. Therefore, this work provides a facile one-step surface modification strategy for preparing durable superhydrophobic fabric, which is promising for efficient oil–water separation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Canadian Journal of Program Evaluation is the property of University of Toronto Press and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Nature‐inspired artificial superhydrophobic surfaces have attracted tremendous attention due to their potential applications in various fields. However, the use of toxic chemicals and expensive nanoparticles with limited durability has restricted the practical applications of these surfaces. Here, we proposed a novel and non‐fluorinated technique to fabricate robust and flexible polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)‐based superhydrophobic surface. Fabrication involved two simple steps: preparation of superhydrophobic nanoparticles by burning PDMS, and fabrication of flexible superhydrophobic PDMS surface (SPS) by dispersing particles in a solvent containing PDMS solution and curing agent. Effect of PDMS particle content on morphology and wettability was examined and 10 wt.% PDMS nanoparticles demonstrated superior superhydrophobicity with a water contact angle of 156° and sliding angle of ~6°. The SPS displayed excellent mechanical robustness in a sandpaper abrasion test and showed no apparent wettability deterioration even when stretched by up to 50%. Additionally, surface maintained outstanding superhydrophobicity even after 300 cycles of mechanical deformation. Impressively, damaged surface can restore its superhydrophobicity after removing the damaged layer using sandpaper abrasion and displayed exceptional chemical, thermal, flame‐retardant, and long‐lasting superhydrophobic properties. The work provides an innovative, low‐cost, and environment‐friendly strategy for designing robust and flexible superhydrophobic surfaces that can be used in real‐life applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Serious damage caused by oily wastewater makes the development of efficient superhydrophobic and superoleophilic materials for oil/water separation processes critical and urgent. Herein, durable superhydrophobic nanometer-scale TiO2 grains with low-surface-energy substance composite-modified materials were fabricated by using a cost-effective and facile synthesis method for the gravity-driven separation of oil/water mixtures under harsh conditions. Different substrates, such as sawdust, wheat straw, cotton, sponge and fabric, were applied for superhydrophobic surface preparation, and various low-surface-energy reagents could interact with deposited TiO2 nanoparticles, including cetylamine, dodecanethiol, stearic acid and HDTMS. The resultant materials showed superhydrophobic properties with a water contact angle (WCA) higher than 150.8°. The separation of various oil/water mixtures with high efficiency and purity was acquired by using the as-prepared sponge. More importantly, the coated sponge exhibited good resistance to various harsh environmental solutions. Moreover, its superhydrophobicity also remained even after 12 months of storage in air or 10 cycles of abrasion. The durable superhydrophobic coating prepared in this work could be practically used for the highly efficient separation of oil/water mixtures under various harsh conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Superhydrophilicity (superwettability) is generally defined as either a static water contact angle near 0° or water completely wetting the surface. Here, we show that there is a superhydrophilic‐like surface that has a large static water contact angle but demonstrates superhydrophilicity in its dynamic water contact performance. We found that polyethylene terephthalate (PET) surfaces showed such behavior following mechanical abrasion with sandpaper. We have evaluated the wettability of the abraded PET surfaces by using static water contact angle (SWCA) measurements and the dynamic water contact performance (DWCP) of impacting droplets, the latter including water sprays, water immersion, anti‐fogging and water droplet impact tests. The water was found to completely wet the abraded PET surfaces on spraying or immersion, although the measured SWCA was as high as 70°, similar to that of the unabraded PET surface. For the abraded PET surface, both the water layer thickness on water immersion and the subsequent drying time were similar to those of an especially coated superhydrophilic layer on the unabraded surface. Accordingly, superhydrophilicity may be determined by the process used to measure it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel efficient and durable glycerol-based reactive flame retardant, ammonium triphosphoric acid glycerol ester, was successfully synthesized. Ammonium triphosphoric acid glycerol ester was grafted onto cotton fabrics through dip-pad-dry-cure technology, and cotton fabrics with excellent and durable flame retardancy were prepared. The limiting oxygen index value of the cotton fabric treated with 20% ammonium triphosphoric acid glycerol ester reached 37.3%, which was maintained at 26.5% after 50 laundry cycles. The treated cotton fabrics were not ignited in the vertical burning tests, much char formed, and still kept their fiber shapes after combustion. The results of X-ray diffraction patterns and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy showed that the treatment had little detrimental effect on the original structure of the cotton fabrics. Ammonium triphosphoric acid glycerol ester can effectively promote cellulose dehydration into char, and play a flame retardant role in both condensed phase and gas phase. Mechanical property testing shows that the mechanical properties of cotton fabrics treated with 20% ammonium triphosphoric acid glycerol ester are maintained well, and can serve as clothing fabrics and decorative supplies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to the requirements of flame retardant and environmental protection of wool fabrics, a phosphorus-nitrogen intumescent flame-retardant (IFR) system was constructed on the surface of wool fabrics based on dip-rolling-drying process with DEA serving as carbonizing agent, phosphorous acid and phosphoric acid used as acids, and urea serving as blowing agent. Ammonium N-ethoxy-n-methylene phosphonate-n-ethyl phosphate (ANPP) was designed and the treated wool fabrics with a weight gain (WG) of 27.4% presented highly flame retardancy and exhibited a high limiting oxygen index (LOI) of 37.8%; after 50 laundering cycles (LCs), LOI can still be remained at 30.5%. Self-extinguishing properties in the vertical combustion. The cone calorimeter (CONE) test verified that the peak heat release rate (PHRR) of the untreated wool fabrics declined to 82.2 from 251.7 kW/m2 after ANPP treatment, and the total heat release (THR) was reduced to 4.4 from 37.9 MJ/m2. In addition, the physical properties were maintained in the usable range. The flame-retardant mechanism analysis showed that the dense phosphorus-nitrogen char layer shaped effectively prevented the release of heat and spread of flammable volatile substances in the condensed phase. This study supplies novel ideas on devising and manufacturing of environmentally friendly treated wool fabrics with superior flame retardancy, durability, and high efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The deployment of disease resistance genes is currently the most economical and environmentally sustainable method of crop protection. However, disease resistance genes can rapidly break down because of constant pathogen evolution, particularly when they are deployed singularly. Polygenic resistance is, therefore, considered the most durable, but combining and maintaining these genes by breeding is a laborious process as effective genes are usually unlinked. The deployment of polygenic resistance with single-locus inheritance is a promising innovation that overcomes these difficulties while enhancing resistance durability. Because of major advances in genomic technologies, increasing numbers of plant resistance genes have been cloned, enabling the development of resistance transgene stacks (RTGSs) that encode multiple genes all located at a single genetic locus. Gene stacks encoding five stem rust resistance genes have now been developed in transgenic wheat and offer both breeding simplicity and potential resistance durability. The development of similar genomic resources in phytopathogens has advanced effector gene isolation and, in some instances, enabled functional validation of individual resistance genes in RTGS. Here, the wheat stem rust pathosystem is used as an illustrative example of how host and pathogen genomic advances have been instrumental in the development of RTGS, which is a strategy applicable to many other agricultural crop species.

Transcranial neuromodulation methods have the potential to diagnose and treat brain disorders at their neural source in a personalized manner. However, it has been difficult to investigate the direct effects of transcranial neuromodulation on neurons in human brain tissue. Here, we show that human brain organoids provide a detailed and artifact-free window into neuromodulation-evoked electrophysiological effects. We derived human cortical organoids from induced pluripotent stem cells and implanted 32-channel electrode arrays. Each organoid was positioned in the center of the human skull and subjected to low-intensity transcranial focused ultrasound. We found that ultrasonic stimuli modulated network activity in the gamma and delta ranges of the frequency spectrum. The effects on the neural networks were a function of the ultrasound stimulation frequency. High gamma activity remained elevated for at least 20 minutes following stimulation offset. This approach is expected to provide controlled studies of the effects of ultrasound and other transcranial neuromodulation modalities on human brain tissue.

Weight-bearing areas of feet are at risk of developing ulcers due to various reasons like a neuropathic foot in diabetes mellitus, acute trauma, post-tumour excision etc., Various reconstructive options have been described in literature from split-thickness skin graft to free flap. This case series reports 10 patients with sole defects. Out of 10 patients, seven patients had heel defect and three patients had the plantar aspect of the forefoot defect. For patients with heel defect, authors used a proximally based medial plantar flap as a reconstructive tool while for forefoot sole defect distally based (reverse) Medial Plantar Artery (MPA) flap was used. The most common cause of heel defect was postdebridement defect in diabetic foot in five cases, postmelanoma excision defect in three cases, postsquamous cell carcinoma excision defect in one case and postelectric burn defect in one case. Flap size ranged from 5x5 cm to 10×7 cm. All flaps offered stable, durable, and cosmetically acceptable skin cover. No patient had a recurrent ulcer during follow-up period. Partial flap necrosis in one case was managed conservatively. The MPA flap offers excellent cover which is a sturdy, durable, cosmetically acceptable cover for medium size defect over the sole i.e., the weight-bearing part of forefoot and heel.

Urbanization has increased significantly during the last century, affecting both rural and urban areas. Due to the growing need for improved connectivity and services, roads and other transportation infrastructure are being built quickly. To meet this need, scientists, designers, and builders have been investigating novel and reasonably priced manufactured goods with the goal of streamlining the building process and improving overall robustness. In recent times, concrete pavements have witnessed a surge in popularity in India, driven by the escalating costs associated with bituminous pavement. The main benefit of using stiff pavement is that it is resilient and can hold its form even under harsh weather and traffic situations. Although concrete pavements may have a higher initial cost, they frequently wind up being more economical in the long run since they require less upkeep and have an excellent design life. This study's primary objective is to present a comparative analysis of pavement appropriateness while accounting for longevity, durability, and cost-effectiveness, among other factors. The simulation can be utilised to gain a quantitative understanding of the dynamic strains and deflections present in a rigid pavement and flexible system. It is discovered that the impact of surface roughness on a slab structure's dynamic response is significant for the pavement structure's useable life span and can be taken into consideration during pavement design. The model can be adjusted to determine the k-value needed to assess a pavement's subgrade support as it ages.

In order to remove/collect oils from polluted water, polypyrrole (PPy) nanoparticles have been loaded onto different substrates (cotton, corn stalk, sawdust, metal, fabric and sponge) by in situ polymerization followed by further hydrophobic modification. A wide range of low surface energy reagent could be used, including cetylamine, dodecanethiol, stearic acid and hexadecyltrimethoxysilane (HDTMS). Observations showed that the as prepared superhydrophobic materials could effectively remove oil from water-in-oil emulsion and immiscible oil/water mixtures with separation efficiencies above 99.1%. The coated material exhibited outstanding resistance to abrasion, acids, bases, salt, high temperature water and long-term exposure in environment. The coating method suggested in this work provides a facile and efficient route for superhydrophobic material fabrication, which could be practically used for separation of oil/water mixtures under various harsh conditions.

Copyright of Revista de Fomento Social is the property of ETEA and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Cotton has been widely used in fabrics owing to its good moisture absorption, air permeability, wearing comfort, and biodegradability. However, cotton-based products are always easy to be ignited, and breed bacteria and contamination due to the nature of massive cellulose and pores. In this work, a durable multifunctional coating for cotton fabric with flame retardant, antibacterial, fluorine-free superhydrophobic and self-cleaning properties, flame retardancy-dopamine@silver-polydimethylsiloxane, (FR-PDA@Ag-PDMS), was successfully fabricated on its surface. At first, dopamine (PDA) was deposited on flame-resistance cotton fabric grafted with ammonium vinyl phosphonate (AMVP). Then the antibacterial silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) were in-situ grown on the fabric surface by reducibility of catechol in PDA. Subsequently, the fabric was coated by PDMS to obtain excellent self-cleaning ability with a water contact angle (WCA) of over 150°. The flame-retardant test results showed the multifunctional coating cotton fabrics obtained the limiting oxygen index value (LOI) of 29.8%, self-extinguishment, lower total heat release, and effective smoke suppression compared with bare cotton. Besides, the coated fabric exhibited excellent antibacterial activity (99.99%) against S. aureus and E. coli. More importantly, under the action of AMVP, PDA@Ag, and PDMS, multifunctional coating cotton fabrics still maintained excellent durability flame retardant, antibacterial, superhydrophobic and self-cleaning performance after 50 standard washing cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aimed at settling the adverse effect of halogen−/phosphorus-containing flame retardants on the human health and ecological environment, a hydromagnesite (HM)-based flame retardant was prepared via sequential modification of polydopamine (PDA) and layered double hydroxide (LDH), which was expected to enhance the flame retardancy of silicone rubber (SR). The preparation feasibility for HM@PDA@LDH were confirmed by a series of characterizations in view of chemical composition, surface morphology, wettability and thermal degradation. The flame retardancy of 20 parts of HM@PDA@LDH per one hundred of silicone rubber (SR/20 phr HM@PDA@LDH) was upgraded with limiting oxygen index (LOI) of 30.5 %, Underwriters Laboratories-1894 Vertical burning-0 (UL-94 V-0) rating and peak heat release rate (PHRR) reduction of 59.6 % in comparison with neat SR. Besides, the possible mechanism was proposed by investigating the combustion residues of SR composites. Along with durable flame retardancy and maintained mechanical strength, the good balance among comprehensive properties of SR composites was gained. Thus, this paper proposed a valuable strategy for overcoming the contradiction between flame retardancy and environmental pollution, which was feasible for the real-world application of SR materials. • Mono-component and hydromagnesite-based flame retardant was prepared for improving the fire safety of SR. • SR composites achieved a LOI of 30.5 % and UL-94 V-0 rating. • PHRR and THR of SR composites were reduced to 59.6 % and 30.9 %. • Great balance among comprehensive properties and flame retardancy of SR composites was achieved. • Multipath flame retardant mechanism was tentatively inferred. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Janus membranes are widely used in a variety of fields due to their ability to spontaneously transport liquids directionally. Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) is a popular and promising material for preparing Janus membranes due to its biocompatibility and excellent mechanical properties. However, the durability of the Janus PDMS membrane in maintaining its one-way liquid transport property is still limited. Here, we prepared a durable PDMS Janus membrane (thickness: 300 mm) through punching microchannels (0.8 mm) and air-plasma-induced PEG grafting (two steps). Unlike conventional air plasma treatments (hydrophilicity: ∼several hours), the hydrophilic side and microchannels of the prepared PDMS membranes exhibited prolonged hydrophilicity (from several hours to over 15 days). In addition, the Janus membrane can maintain its unidirectional water transport capability even after 15 cycles. The excellent stretchability of our Janus PDMS membranes made them particularly suitable for potential applications in wound exudate management. Considering its biocompatibility and non-toxic nature, our Janus PDMS membrane holds great potential for applications in fields such as clinical medicine, oil-water separation, biomedicine, fog water collection and so on. [Display omitted] • Durable Janus PDMS membranes were made by punching and air plasma-induced PEG grafting. • The production process is simple and effective. • The sample exhibits durability of one-way liquid transport over 15 days of storage. • The simulated wound covered with Janus PDMS membranes remained dry for 24 h. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The facile development of a sustainable and durable flame-retardant approach for protein silk is of interest. Inspired by silk tin-weighting technology, this study developed a novel and sustainable in-situ deposition strategy based on biomass phytic acid to impart durable flame-retardant performance to silk fabrics. The chemical structure of insoluble chelating precipitation, and the surface morphology, thermal stability, combustion behavior, flame-retardant capacity, laundering resistance, and flame-retardant mode of action of the tin-weighting silk samples, were explored. The Sn-, P-, Si-containing insoluble chelating precipitation formed within the fiber interior and combined with silk fibers through electrostatic attraction and metal salt chelation. As a result, the tin-weighting silk displayed excellent self-extinguishing capacity, with the damaged length reduced to 9.2 cm and the LOI increased to 31.6 %; it also achieved self-extinguishing after 30 washing cycles, demonstrating high flame-retardant efficacy and laundering resistance. Moreover, the tin-weighting silk also showed the obvious suppression in smoke and heat generation by 55.6 % and 35.7 %, respectively. The synergistic charring action of phosphate groups, tin metal salts, and silicates was beneficial for enhancing the fire safety of silk. The tin-weighting treatment also displayed a minor impact on mechanical performance of silk fabrics. [Display omitted] • The tin-weighting treatment involves the stepwise adsorption of tin chloride, phytic acid and sodium silicate. • Insoluble chelating precipitations are in-situ deposited inside silk fiber interior. • The tin-weighting treatment exhibits excellent flame retardancy and good washing durability on silk fabrics. • The tin-weighting treatment exerts a minor impact on mechanical property of silk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We introduced a new concept to develop a membrane with ultralong hydrogel-functionalized MnO2 nanowires. With its facile and cost-effective synthesis process, this spiral-windable and robust membrane with high separation performance has great potential for its application on an industrial scale to treat oily wastewater under harsh environments. [Display omitted] • A new membrane was constructed with ultralong hydrogel-functionalized MnO 2 nanowires. • The membrane shows high flux, high separation efficiency and low fouling tendency. • A spiral-windable membrane is adaptable for various membrane configurations. • This membrane endures harsh working environments in industry. An ideal membrane for oil/water separation at industrial scale is expected to possess the combined merits of excellent separation performance, sound mechanical flexibility, and high durability under harsh environments. In response to these challenging requirements, we came up with a new concept to design the membrane constructed with ultralong hydrogel-functionalized MnO 2 nanowires. The super-oleophobic nanowires form highly open and tight pore structures within the membrane, which endows its high permeation flux (2800 L h−1 m−2 bar−1), high oil/water separation efficiency (>99 %) and low fouling tendency for separating emulsified oil from water. Furthermore, the brittleness problem of MnO 2 materials is collectively resolved due to the high aspect ratio and surface functionalization of the hydrogel-functionalized MnO 2 nanowires. This results in the new membrane with extraordinary mechanical flexibility and potential for spiral-wound membrane modules, which are highly desired in industrial applications due to a lower footprint and lower capital cost. The new membrane also demonstrates high durability under harsh environments with non-neutral pH values or high salinities. Given its facile synthesis process and inexpensive materials, this spiral-windable and durable membrane with high separation performance has the great potential to be applied at industrial scale for oily wastewater treatment under harsh environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Selective superwetting surfaces preserve the opposite superwetting properties of oil and water and have attracted considerable attention for their application in oil-water separation owing to their efficient surface energy since 2000. Among these surfaces, superoleophobic/superhydrophilic surfaces are considered remarkable because of their anti-oil properties. The coexistence of superoleophobicity and superhydrophilicity poses a challenge based on the traditional surface/interface theory. However, the fabrication of superoleophobic surfaces requires extremely low surface energy, which is achieved by introducing compounds with long fluorocarbon chains. However, these compounds are harmful to the environment. Herein, a mesh with superoleophobic/superhydrophilic properties was developed by coating a chemically etched copper mesh substrate with photopolymerized short fluorocarbon chains and water-insoluble hydrophilic monomers. This mesh can separate different types of oil-water mixtures with a separation efficiency of >99 %. The mesh demonstrated excellent underwater stability as well as chemical and mechanical durability. The water resistance and chemical durability of the mesh are stronger than those of the control copper mesh using metal ions and long fluorocarbon chains. Moreover, oil-water separation was achieved even after immersion in deionized water and salt, acid, and alkali solutions. In addition, the mesh preserves the ability of oil-water separation after being cleaned and reused for 10 times. The proposed superoleophobic/superhydrophilic mesh offers a solution for continuous oil-water separation and has prospects for developing anti-fouling/sweat-absorbing fabrics and self-cleaning surfaces. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A multifunctional finishing agent AAD is synthesized for PET fabric. • The AAD coating endows PET fabric with excellent flame retardancy and UV resistance. • The AAD coating is recyclable and reusable. Poly (ethylene terephthalate) (PET) fabric is widely used in our lives due to its excellent mechanical strength, high elasticity, wrinkle resistance, and anti-abrasion. However, the inflammability and droplets produced during combustion restricted its application. Herein, a novel PET fabric with fire resistance, anti-dripping, and UV resistance is proposed to resolve this problem. Firstly, the finishing agent (AAD) was synthesized using adipoyl chloride, 9-anthracenemethanol, and diethyl(hydroxymethyl)phosphonate. Then AAD was introduced to the surface of PET fabric by dip-pad-cure process. The limiting oxygen index (LOI) value of AAD-treated PET enhanced to 23.8% from 19.3%. Besides, the fabric passed the vertical burning test (VBT) with no droplets generated. The fabric could still pass the VBT and maintain an LOI value of 23.3% after washing. Meanwhile, the AAD-treated PET fabric showed outstanding UV resistance with a high UPF value of 4318.27. The breaking force of AAD-treated PET was also improved. More importantly, the AAD coating could be easily removed from the fabric using dichloromethane and recycled using a rotary evaporator with a recovery rate of 98.6%. The recycled AAD could also recoated on the PET fabric to impart similar properties. This work proposed a novel strategy to prepare durable flame retardant and UV-resistant PET fabrics with recyclability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The smart responsive materials have become one of the hottest areas of research in oil/water separation field and there are various studies on preparation technologies. However, most of the materials reported were prepared by coating or coupling to attach functional polymer to substrates, which generally had unstable physical and chemical properties and were difficult to be applied in harsh environments. In this work, we fabricated a smart and durable oil/water separation material by one-step foaming method to graft pH-responsive copolymer onto a polyurethane foam (PUF) substrate. The foam exhibited reversible wettability under different pH environments, had excellent oil adsorption capacity (24.78–64.27g/g) and high oil/water separation efficiency (above 98%). Besides, the foam also showed stable performance and excellent recyclability in a series of durability experiments, including mechanical abrasion, light radiation and chemical immersion. The foam with simple preparation process and excellent stability will have promising application prospects in the field of oil/water separation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Disease can be spread through contact with contaminated surfaces (fomites). For example, fomites have been implicated in the spread of meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Antimicrobial surface treatments are a potential method of reducing disease transmission from fomites, and broad-spectrum activity is desirable.Aim: To test cuprous oxide (Cu2O) and cupric oxide (CuO) coatings for antimicrobial activity against 12 micro-organisms including bacteria and fungi.Methods: We fabricated two surface coatings. The Cu2O coating was fabricated in a simple two-step process using polyurethane to bind the active copper oxide particles; CuO was prepared by heat treatment of Cu2O particles in air to produce cupric oxide (CuO) and to cause early-stage sintering to form a continuous coating. The antimicrobial activity was examined with 10 μL of microbial suspension droplets followed by counting cells as colony-forming units (cfu).Findings: The coatings rapidly killed nine different micro-organisms, including Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, mycobacteria and fungi. For example, the Cu2O/PU coating killed 99.9997% of P. aeruginosa and 99.9993% of S. aureus after 1 h. Efficacy was not reduced after weekly cleanings. The antimicrobial activity of the Cu2O coating was unchanged after abrasion treatment, and the coatings were not cytotoxic to human cells.Conclusion: The combination of broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity, abrasion resistance, and low toxicity of the Cu2O coating suggests potential use in healthcare settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heavy oils induced water pollutions are difficult to be eliminated due to the oils located under water. Herein, we fabricated superhydrophobic cellulose film with nanoflower structures via a Facile method to eliminate heavy oil from water. Cellulose films were in-situ modified with Fe2O3 and stearic acid (STA) for superhydrophobic modification. The corresponding superhydrophobic cellulose/Fe2O3-STA film has water contact angle of 155.5° and sliding angle of 5.5°, and can maintains its superhydrophobicity when it is immersed in water. The film exists excellent self-cleaning property, and the dusts on the film could be easily swept away by running water drops. The film was further applied to separate heavy oil/water mixture with separation efficiency of 99.37 %, and the separation efficiency was maintained after 20 separation cycles as well. The film can also be utilized to absorb small heavy oil drops under water. Thus, we not only develop a simple way to produce superhydrophobic cellulose based films, but also provide superhydrophobic materials to solve water pollution caused by heavy oil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Switching to dolutegravir/lamivudine (DTG/3TC) was noninferior to continuing tenofovir alafenamide (TAF)–based regimens for maintaining virologic suppression at week 48 of the TANGO study. Here we present week 144 outcomes (efficacy, safety, weight, and biomarkers). Methods TANGO is a randomized (1:1, stratified by baseline third agent class), open-label, noninferiority phase 3 study. Virologically suppressed (>6 months) adults with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) switched to once-daily DTG/3TC or continued TAF-based regimens. Results A total of 741 participants received study treatment (DTG/3TC, n = 369; TAF-based regimen, n = 372). At week 144, the proportion of participants with an HIV-1 RNA level ≥50 copies/mL (primary end point, Snapshot; intention-to-treat–exposed population) after switching to DTG/3TC was 0.3% (1 of 369) versus 1.3% (5 of 372) for those continuing TAF-based regimens, demonstrating noninferiority (adjusted treatment difference, −1.1 [95% confidence interval, −2.4 to.2), with DTG/3TC favored in the per-protocol analysis (adjusted treatment difference, −1.1 [−2.3 to −.0]; P  = .04). Few participants met confirmed virologic withdrawal criteria (none in the DTG/3TC and 3 in the TAF-based regimen group), with no resistance observed. Drug-related adverse events were more frequent with DTG/3TC (15%; leading to discontinuation in 4%) than TAF-based regimens (5%; leading to discontinuation in 1%) through week 144, but rates were comparable after week 48 (4%; leading to discontinuation in 1% in both groups). Changes from baseline in lipid values generally favored DTG/3TC; no clinical impact on renal function and comparable changes in inflammatory and bone biomarkers across groups were observed. Conclusions Switching to DTG/3TC demonstrated noninferior and durable efficacy compared with continuing TAF-based regimens in treatment-experienced adults with HIV-1, with good safety and tolerability, and no resistance through 144 weeks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acidic, alkaline, salty and hot oily water originated from industrial oily wastewater, petroleum spills and meal oily waste sewage have caused heavy environmental pollutions and energy waste. Underwater superoleophobic stainless steel mesh (SSM) is one kind of promising materials to purify above oily wastewater; however, it is still a challenge to prepare durable underwater superoleophobic SSM towards acid, base, salt, high temperature or abrasion. Herein, a durable underwater superoleophobic SSM (TA-PF-SSM) was prepared using tannic acid (TA) and paraformaldehyde (PF) via a simple and mild wet chemical immersion method. Surface morphologies show a few differences compared with those of pristine SSM. The underwater superoleophobic TA-PF-SSM can be utilized to separate various kinds of oil/water mixtures that water phase can be acidic/alkaline (pH = 1, 4, 10 and 13), salty and even hot. Separation efficiencies can reach 99.98% without any obvious declines after tens of cyclic separations, and also do not decrease after sand paper abrasion with a load of 200 g for 10 cycles. In addition, the TA-PF-SSM can also be applied to separate meal waste oily water at 80°C and crude oil/water at 50°C. And it shows excellent self-cleaning property towards crude oil. This study not only provides a simple surface modification method to prepare durable underwater superoleophobic material, but also proposes a TA-PF-SSM that can be applied to purify oily wastewater from industry, meal wastes and petroleum spills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nylon-cotton (NYCO) blend fabrics have been widely used recently; however, they are susceptible to ignition when exposed to flame. Herein, 3-glycidyloxypropyl trimethoxy silane (GPTMS) associated with polyethyleneimine (PEI) and phytic acid (PA) was incorporated on NYCO fabrics through the facile sol–gel and dip-nip-dry method to prepare flame retardant NYCO fabrics with enhanced washing durability. The limiting oxygen index (LOI) value of treated NYCO fabrics was increased from 18.5 to 29.8% and the damaged length was reduced from 30 to 7.5 cm. Cone calorimeter test indicated that the peak heat release rate and total heat release were decreased by 73 and 79% respectively, compared with that of the control NYCO fabrics. The flame retardancy was well maintained and showed self-extinguishing behavior after 20 laundering cycles. The char formation ability was reinforced and the possible flame retardant mechanism was proposed. Moreover, the dermal irritation test showed good biological safety of the fabrics, which were incapable to cause erythema and edema on rabbit skin. This study proposed a feasible method to produce flame retardancy, durability, and bio-safety nylon-cotton blend fabrics by textile finishing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Superhydrophobic cotton fabrics have been widely explored for their excellent properties, although there are still a few limitations in the practical applications for the reasons of poor environmental performance and short service life. In this study, the hexadecyltrimethoxysilane emulsion was prepared using O2-plasma and ultrasound for the superhydrophobic functional finishing of raw cotton fabric by immersion method. The prepared cotton fabrics showed a superior hydrophobicity with water contact angles larger than 156.0°, as well as an excellent self-healing ability. This self-healing ability was gained by simple heating treatment, which could restore the superhydrophobicity of the hydrophilic cotton fabric damaged by abrasion or O2-plasma treatment. The superhydrophobic cotton fabrics demonstrated excellent washing durability, which can withstand 50 times accelerated laundering cycles. Besides this, the superhydrophobic coatings also displayed fair chemical stability in strong acidic and alkaline solutions. The prepared nonfluorinated superhydrophobic cotton fabric with self-healing ability shows a potential for practical functional textile application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Résumé: La pandémie de coronavirus, déclarée le 11 mars 2020 par l'Organisation mondiale de la santé (OMS), conduit à penser que d'autres agents pathogènes pourraient se propager dans les années à venir. La mondialisation des échanges peut donc transformer une épidémie localisée en pandémie, non sans remettre en cause les habitudes alimentaires et culturelles des populations locales. Au-delà des aspects sanitaires, la pandémie de la Covid-19 invite à réfléchir aux conséquences de la mondialisation, car elle s'inscrit dans un faisceau de crises actuelles et à venir : économique, sociale et environnementale. Une campagne sanitaire, permettant d'éradiquer une telle pandémie, est en effet coûteuse ; les entreprises subissent le ralentissement de l'activité, ce qui entraîne une récession économique, malgré les aides engagées par les États. Les causes structurelles de cette pandémie incitent à repenser, notamment, la sécurité alimentaire et sanitaire sur le long terme. La crise révèle les fragilités des chaînes de valeurs internationales à flux tendus qui, depuis une trentaine d'années, structurent le processus de mondialisation. The coronavirus pandemic, declared on 11 March 2020 by the World Health Organization, suggests that other pathogens could spread in the coming years. The globalisation of trade can transform a localised epidemic into a pandemic, while calling into question the dietary and cultural habits of local populations. Beyond the health aspects, the COVID-19 pandemic invites us to reflect on the consequences of globalisation, as it is part of a number of current and future economic, social and environmental crises. A health campaign to eradicate pandemics such as this is costly; companies are suffering from the slowdown in activity, leading to an economic recession, despite aid provided by States. The structural causes of this pandemic encourage us to rethink food and health security in the long term. The crisis reveals the fragility of the international justin-time value chains that have structured the globalisation process over the past 30 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solar-driven interface evaporation (SDIE) is a promising seawater desalination technology, which can achieve long-term and efficient seawater desalination in laboratory. However, because of fragile and easily damaged, the solar absorbers are difficult to be applied in the complex and changeable actual applications. In this work, a polypyrrole/Ti 3 C 2 T x MXene-polydopamine-fabric (PPy/MXene-PDA-fabric) was prepared by a simple two-step polymerization method in this study, which can be used as the solar absorber of the SDIE system. Due to the unique physical properties of elastic fabrics, the PPy/MXene-PDA-fabric is easy to transport and clean, making it extremely practical. Meanwhile, the combination of polypyrrole, polydopamine, and MXene photothermal materials also ensures its excellent photothermal conversion performance. The research results show that the average evaporation rate of PPy/MXene-PDA-fabric can reach 1.485 kg/m2h in nearly 100 h of evaporation test under one sun irradiation. After 12 h of continuous operation, only a tiny amount of salt accumulated on the surface of the sample, which could be continued after a simple cleaning. The evaporation rate remained stable after eight cycles. Compared with the traditional solar absorber, PPy/MXene-PDA-fabric not only ensures efficient and durable solar evaporation performance, but also dramatically improves the practicability and environmental applicability. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this experimental study on self-compacting concrete (SCC), the Manufactured sand (M-sand) and Fly ash (FA) were utilised for partial replacement of Natural sand (N-sand) and Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC), respectively. N-sand was partially replaced by M-sand at various percentage levels, after the dose of FA in the mix was optimised. In terms of compressive strength, the optimum replacement level of OPC by FA was 20%, whilst for replacement of N-sand by M-sand it was 50%. Two types of mixes were prepared to compare the macro and micro level properties of SCC, i.e., SCC-I (100%OPC + 100%N-sand) and SCC-II (80%OPC + 20%FA + 50%N-sand + 50%M-sand). The characteristics of fresh concrete mixes were determined using Slump flow, T50 time, V-funnel, L-box, U-box, and J-ring tests. After 28 days of curing in tap water, both types of specimens were exposed to a solution of ammonium sulphate [(NH4)2SO4] containing sulphate salt concentration of 2.0 g/l for 360 days to test their durability. Loss in compressive strength, weight change, sorptivity, and micro-structural changes (XRD, SEM, and EDS) all were evaluated for up to 360 days. It was found that the use of FA and M-sand in concrete makes it more environmental-friendly and durable, as well as have better performance in a sulphate environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a durable superhydrophobic/superoleophilic melamine foam was fabricated by a facile and rapid one-step thiol-ene click chemistry and Michael addition reaction, which demonstrated excellent robustness in oil/water separation. First, 1H, 1H, 2H-perfluoro-1-hexene reacted with thiol-functionalized polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane via the thiol-ene click chemistry to obtain a fluorinated thiol-functionalized polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane solution. Subsequently, the melamine foam was immersed to the solution system to form nanoaggregates on the melamine foam surface by the Michael addition reaction in the presence of ultraviolet light. The micro/nano rough structure and low surface energy of the nanoaggregates layer endowed the pristine melamine foam with superhydrophobicity; the water contact angle was greater than 150°. More importantly, the as-prepared melamine foam could withstand harsh conditions, such as a corrosive solution environment, strong ultraviolet light, mechanical compression, high and low temperature exposure, and ultrasonic washing. Driven by gravity, the as-prepared melamine foam could efficiently separate the oil/water mixtures and maintain 98% separation efficiency at high and low temperatures. In addition, it maintained the desirable absorption capability in different oil/organic solvents even after 15 absorption cycles. Accordingly, this facile, low-cost, and robust one-step method provides important support for the superhydrophobic oil/water separation field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]