Preparation of Nanocomposites of Poly(ε-caprolactone) and Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes by Ultrasound Micro-Molding. Influence of Nanotubes on Melting and Crystallization

Ultrasound micro-molding technology was successfully applied to prepare nanocomposites based on a poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL) matrix and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). Optimization of processing parameters (i.e., amplitude, force and time) was crucial to obtain nanocomposites without any evidence of degradation, high material saving and short processing time (7-8 s). Good dispersion of nanotubes was achieved after processing previously formed solvent casting films. This dispersion was even partially detected in pieces directly obtained from powder mixtures of both components. Incorporation of MWCNTs had a remarkable influence on melting and crystallization processes, which were systematically studied by time resolved synchrotron experiments. Results indicated higher melting and crystallization temperatures for the nanocomposite, with temperature differences higher than 5 degrees C. Carbon nanotubes were effective nucleating agents and had an influence on crystallinity, crystallization rate and even on lamellar morphology, which was evaluated by analysis of the correlation function of small angle diffraction profiles. Crystallinity within lamellar stacks was lower for the solvent casting nanocomposite, but in this case lamellae underwent a thickening process during heating that accounted for the increase in the melting temperature. Crystallization from the melt rendered similar lamellar morphologies at the end of the process due to a lamellar insertion mechanism.The authors acknowledge support from MINECO and FEDER (MAT2015-69547-R and MAT2015-69367-R), and the Generalitat de Catalunya (2014SGR188). Diffraction experiments were performed at NCD beamline at ALBA Synchrotron with the collaboration of ALBA staff

Control of quality and silo storage of sunflower seeds using near infrared technology

En este trabajo se evalúa la espectroscopía de infrarrojo cercano para su uso en el control de calidad y almacenamiento de semillas de girasol. Los resultados indican que el método analítico empleado puede utilizarse como método de determinación rápida de humedad, grasa y contenidos altos/bajos de ácido oleico. Los rangos de aplicación son comparables con los valores que se han determinado mediante métodos clásicos de análisis, encontrándose entre 4.6-21.4% la humedad, 38.4-49.6% la grasa y 60.0- 93.1% de ácido oleico del total de los ácidos grasos. Además se ha utilizado un análisis discriminarte lineal por pasos determinando las longitudes de onda más adecuadas para la clasificación de semillas de girasol en los grupos alto/bajo oleico. El modelo generado permitió la clasificación de semillas de girasol en los grupos alto y bajo oleico con unos porcentajes de muestras correctamente clasificadas de un 90.5% en validación interna y de un 89.4% en validación cruzadaThis work assesses the application of near infrared spectroscopy technology for the quality control of sunflower seeds direct from farmers and from a storage silo. The results show that the analytical method employing near infrared spectroscopy can be used as a rapid and non-destructive tool for the determination of moisture, fat and high/low oleic acid contents in samples of sunflower seeds. The ranges obtained were comparable to those reported for classic chemical methods, and were between 4.6-21.4% for moisture; 38.4-49.6% for fat, and 60.0-93.1% for oleic acid expressed as percentage of total fatty acids. A stepwise discriminant analysis was performed to determine the most useful wavelengths for classifying sunflower seeds in terms of their (high/low) oleic acid composition. The discriminant model allows the classification of sunflower seeds with high or low oleicacid contents, with a prediction rate of 90.5% for internal validation and of 89.4% for cross-validatio

Effect of bioactive glass particles on the thermal degradation behaviour of medical polyesters

The thermal degradation behaviour of poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL), poly(l-lactide) (PLLA) and poly(lactide/ε-caprolactone) (PLCL) and of composites of these polymers filled with bioglass particles was investigated by means of thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). According to the activation energies calculated by the Friedman approach, PCL showed the highest resistance to thermal degradation. Addition of bioglass induced a reaction between the ester groups of the polyesters and the SiO− groups present in the surface of bioglass particles which caused a 1.3–1.9 fold decrease in activation energies of the composites with respect to their unfilled polymer counterparts. This reaction was proven by the increase in the absorbance of the carboxylate peak in the infrared spectra of the composite films maintained at 210 °C and confirmed the random chain scission of the polymer chains. This fact caused a significant decrease in the featured thermal transitions of the polymers as determined by the differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) measurements.The authors are thankful for funds of the Basque Government, Department of Education, Universities and Research (GIC10/152-IT-334-10) and Dept. of Industry (IE10/276). A. L. thanks the University of the Basque Country (UPV-EHU) for a predoctoral grant. SGIker general services are also thanked for SEM support

Mapping. Luz, sonido, espacio y percepción

El presente trabajo final de máster tiene como objeto de estudio el vídeo mapping, también llamado mapping de proyección o simplemente mapping. Se trata de una técnica que consiste en proyectar vídeo haciéndolo coincidir con la geometría del mundo físico, creando superficies dinámicas y extendiendo el concepto de pantalla tradicional. Esta técnica con aplicaciones tan variadas como la escenografía, vídeo arte, vídeo escultura, instalaciones o proyecciones monumentales sobre edificios y estructuras, crea ambientes inmersivos y sinestésicos. Esta investigación pretende reflexionar, contextualizar y explicar el mapping, para lo que estudiaremos los mecanismos de creación de la ilusión perceptiva (la luz, la perspectiva y el sonido), sus orígenes e influencias (uso de las proyecciones y el vídeo en el espectáculo, el teatro, el arte y el fenómeno del VJing) y el concepto de pantalla y los nuevos medios junto con el desarrollo de la tecnología. Además presentaremos los software y lenguajes de programación que se emplean en proyectos de este tipo, determinando las fases de trabajo necesarias y estableciendo un workflow adecuado. Para conocer la situación del mapping en la actualidad, realizaremos una clasificación y analizaremos algunas de las obras de los artistas, colectivos y compañías más representativos.This master¿s degree final project aims to study video mapping, also called projection mapping or just mapping. This technique consists on projecting video to coincide with the geometry of the physical world, creating dynamic surfaces and extending the concept of traditional screen. This technique, with applications as varied as stage design, video art, video sculpture, installations and monumental projections on buildings and structures, creates immersive and synesthetic environments. The goal of this research is to contextualize and explain mapping, for which I will study the mechanisms of creating the perceptual illusion (light, perspective and sound), its origins and influences (use of video and projections in the show, theater, art and the VJing phenomenon), screen concept and new media along with the development of technology. Besides, I will present the software and programming languages used in projects of this type, determining the work stages required and establishing a suitable workflow. In order to learn about the current situation of mapping, I will make a categorization and analyze some works of representative artists, collectives and companies.Oiz Elgorriaga, I. (2013). Mapping. Luz, sonido, espacio y percepción. Universitat Politècnica de València. http://hdl.handle.net/10251/35050Archivo delegad

“It’s a silver lining”: A template analysis of satisfaction and quality of life following post-mastectomy breast reconstruction

The file attached to this record is the author's final peer reviewed version.Objective: In the United Kingdom, the number of women electing to undergo post-mastectomy breast reconstruction is increasing. As a consequence exploring patient-reported outcomes in breast surgery has become increasingly important. This study aims to explore satisfaction and quality of life following post-mastectomy breast reconstruction. Design: Qualitative research design. Methods: In-depth, semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted with 25 women, (Age, M= 53.08, SD=8.41) following breast reconstruction in the United Kingdom. Data were analysed using template analysis which produced three first-level, 13 second-level and 19 third-level themes. Results: Following reconstruction women reported improved emotional functioning, although this was often accompanied with deterioration in physical, sexual and/or social functioning. Women positively appraised their breast appearance, although some reported a decline in satisfaction over time and attributed this decline to their chosen reconstructive technique. Many women accepted the inevitability of scarring and most perceived their scars as a representation of their journey, signifying survival. Generally women were satisfied with the outcome of their reconstruction, although on reflection some would not have opted for reconstruction. Following breast reconstruction women were increasingly likely to experience the fear of recurrence, attributed to no longer being able to have a mammogram on the affected breast(s). Conclusions: This study provides new insights into post-mastectomy breast reconstruction and is a novel application of the qualitative data analysis method, template analysis. Template analysis demonstrates only slight variation in some categories of experience among women, despite a heterogeneous sample. The findings allow researchers and clinicians to focus on specific dimensions of satisfaction and quality of life to positively support the needs of women following reconstructio

Material plastikoak eta ingurugiroa: polimero biodegradakorrak

Material plastikoen ingurugiro-inpaktua ebaluatzeko, balio-bizitza agortu zaielarik hondakin gisa haiekin zer egin erabaki behar da. Materialen kutsadura ekiditeko ez dago bide bakarrik. Plastikoen fabrikazioan albo-produktu hondakinak gutxitzea bilatu behar da, alde batetik. Bestetik, egungo ikerketen arabera hor dira zabalik birziklapen zuzena, degradazioa, errausketa, edota material berrien garapena bezalako aukerak. Halaber, propietateak hobetu eta produktuen balio-bizitza luzatzea bila daiteke edo, beste batzuetan, laburtzea, material biodegradakorrak garatuz. Emisioen gutxitzeak ere helburu nagusia izan beharko luke polimero-ekoizle diren enpresentzat. Gaia konplexua da, polimeroen zientzia eta ingeniaritzatik etor daitezkeen garapenez gain, ekonomia eta tokian tokiko politikak sartzen direlako jokoan

Improvement of thermal stability and mechanical properties of medical polyester composites by plasma surface modification of the bioactive glass particles

Poly(l-lactide) (PLLA), poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) and poly(l-lactide/ε-caprolactone) (PLCL) are medical (co)polyesters that are conventionally manufactured by thermoplastic processing techniques, such as injection molding or extrusion. However, the addition of bioglass particles causes a degradation reaction of the matrix at high temperatures and could limit the fabrication of composite systems by the above mentioned processes. In this work, a surface modification of bioactive glass particles by plasma polymerization of acrlylic acid is proposed as a strategy for the improvement of thermal stability of bioglass filled composite systems. The developed poly(acrylic acid) layer on the surface of bioglass particles, hinders the degradation reaction between the Si–O− groups present in the surface of the particles and the Cdouble bondO groups of the polymer's backbone. As an illustration, the onset degradation temperature (Tonset) of PLLA, PCL and PLCL increased respectively from 185.0, 240.1 and 192.2 for bioglass (BG) filled composites to 240.4, 299.5 and 245.7 °C for their modified bioglass (mBG) filled counterparts. Finally, neat PLLA and composites having 15 vol.% of BG and mBG were melt-compounded and subsequently hot pressed to obtain tensile test samples. Non-modified bioglass filled PLLA film was too brittle and difficult to handle due to the sharp reduction of molecular weight during thermoplastic processing. On the contrary, modified bioglass filled PLLA presented a slight increase in Young's modulus with respect to unfilled PLLA but a decrease in both tensile strength and elongation at break.The authors are thankful for funds of the Basque Government, Department of Education, Universities and Research (GIC10/152-IT-334-10) and Dept. of Industry (IE10/276), and the Spanish government for project MICINN (BIO2010-21542-C02-01). A. L. thanks the University of the Basque Country (UPV-EHU) for a predoctoral grant

Soka sintetikoak

Izaera eta diseinuaren arabera soken ezaugarriak ulertzeko asmoz, trakzioko propietate mekanikoez aritu gara. Hala, erabilpen-kasu jakin bateko mekanika-ariketa aztertu dugu: mendiko eskaladan balizko erorketa baten ondorengo gelditze-prozesua. Honekin batera, soken ezaugarri mekanikoak aztertu eta soka sintetikoek beste batzuen aurrean dituzten abantailez jabetzeko aukera izan dugu. Bestetik, lan honen xedeak betetzeko, sokak egiteko erabilitako aitzin-materialen izaera eta egiturari dagozkion ezaugarriak aztertu ditugu. Hari-zuntz sintetikoak norabide batean orientatutako polimeroak diren aldetik, norabidetutako polimeroen egitura-ezaugarri eta performantzia mekanikoaren arteko erlazioak aztertu ditugu, baita egitura-ezaugarri horiek lortzeko behar izan diren fabrikazio-prozesuak ere

Material plastikoak eta ingurugiroa: polimero biodegradakorrak

Material plastikoen ingurugiro-inpaktua ebaluatzeko, balio-bizitza agortu zaielarik hondakin gisa haiekin zer egin erabaki behar da. Materialen kutsadura ekiditeko ez dago bide bakarrik. Plastikoen fabrikazioan albo-produktu hondakinak gutxitzea bilatu behar da, alde batetik. Bestetik, egungo ikerketen arabera hor dira zabalik birziklapen zuzena, degradazioa, errausketa, edota material berrien garapena bezalako aukerak. Halaber, propietateak hobetu eta produktuen balio-bizitza luzatzea bila daiteke edo, beste batzuetan, laburtzea, material biodegradakorrak garatuz. Emisioen gutxitzeak ere helburu nagusia izan beharko luke polimero-ekoizle diren enpresentzat. Gaia konplexua da, polimeroen zientzia eta ingeniaritzatik etor daitezkeen garapenez gain, ekonomia eta tokian tokiko politikak sartzen direlako jokoan