O poli(cloreto de vinila) PVC é o segundo termoplástico mais consumido no mundo devido a sua versatilidade e seu amplo espectro de utilização. O desenvolvimento de modelos matemáticos representativos é de grande importância para o projeto, análise e otimização de processos de polimerização. A determinação das condições de operação ótimas para um reator de polimerização levando em conta as restrições operacionais e de qualidade do polímero produzido poderia, em princípio, ser realizada de maneira empírica. Entretanto, pode ser feita de maneira muito mais eficiente, econômica e segura através da solução de um problema de otimização. Para tanto, é imprescindível dispor de um modelo matemático representativo do processo de polimerização, confiável e validado experimentalmente em condições tão amplas quanto possível. Dentro deste panorama, o presente trabalho buscou desenvolver, a partir de modelos previamente descritos na literatura, um modelo matemático do processo de polimerização em suspensão de cloreto de vinila. Parâmetros do modelo referentes às limitações difusionais das constantes de terminação e propagação foram ajustados. As previsões do modelo foram comparadas com dados experimentais obtidos na literatura, referentes a diferentes tipos de iniciador, e diferentes condições operacionais. Verificou-se que o modelo desenvolvido foi capaz de representar adequadamente todos os dados experimentais testados quando ajustado individualmente para cada ensaio. Quando aplicada uma correlação generalizada para os parâmetros ajustáveis, o modelo representou de forma satisfatória, tanto qualitativa como quantitativamente, a maioria dos dados experimentais. As possíveis causas para as discrepâncias encontradas em alguns casos foram discutidas e recomendações para melhoramento do modelo foram apresentadas. / Poly (vinyl chloride) PVC is the second-largest thermoplastic that is consumed in the world because of its versatility and comprehensive series of application. The development of representative mathematical models is important for the design, analysis and optimization of polymerization processes. The determination of the optimal operational conditions for a polymerization reactor taking into account operational constraints and quality of the polymer produced could be, in principle, achieved by empirical trial-and-error procedure. However, this can be made in a much more efficient, economic, and safe way through the solution of an optimization problem for which it is required a representative mathematical model of the polymerization process. Such model should be reliable and validated over as wide a range of experimental conditions as possible. In this scenario, the objective of the present work was to develop a mathematical model for suspension polymerization of vinyl chloride, with the abovementioned features, from the models previously described in literature. Model parameters for the diffusion-controlled termination and propagation rate constant were estimated. The model predictions were compared with experimental data taken from the literature, covering different kinds of initiators and different operational conditions. It was found that the model was able to suitably represent all the experimental data tested when fitted for each run. When a general correlation for the adjustable parameters was obtained and included in the model, the model predictions reproduced satisfactorily most of the experimental data in both qualitative and quantitative fashions. Possible causes for the discrepancies found in some cases were discussed and recommendations for model improvement were suggested.

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<p>A Polyvinylchloride surface was modified by coating a biocompatible, hydrophilic and antibacterial polymer by a mild surface modification method. The surface was first activated and then functionalized, followed by coating with polymer. The surface functionality was evaluated using cell adhesion, bacterial adhesion and bacterial viability for polymers with antibacterial properties. 3T3 mouse fibroblast cells were used for cell adhesion, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus were used for bacterial adhesion in the first study, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus were used for bacterial adhesion and antibacterial activity in the second study.</p><p></p><p><br></p><p>Chapter 2 reports how we synthesized, immobilized and evaluated a novel hydrophilic polymer with anti-fouling properties onto surface of polyvinylchloride via an effective and mild surface coating technique. The polyvinylchloride surface was first activated by azidation as well as amination, and then tethering a newly synthesized hydrophilic and biocompatible polyvinylpyrrolidone having pendent reactive succinimide functionality onto the surface. Results show that the coated hydrophilic polymer significantly reduced the 3T3 fibroblast cell adhesion as well as the adhesion of the three bacterial species. </p><p><br></p><p>Chapter 3 reports how we prepared, immobilized and evaluated an antibacterial and anti-fouling polymer onto polyvinylchloride surface following an efficient and simple method of surface modification. The surface coated with a terpolymer constructed with N-vinylpyrrolidone, 3,4-Dichloro-5-hydroxy-2(5H)-furanone derivative and succinimide residue was evaluated with cell adhesion, bacterial adhesion and bacterial viability. Surface adhesion was evaluated with 3T3 mouse fibroblast cells and two bacterial species. Also, antibacterial activity was evaluated by bacterial viability assay with the two bacterial species. Results showed that the polymer-modified polyvinylchloride surface exhibited significantly decreased 3T3 fibroblast cell adhesion and bacterial adhesion. Furthermore, the modified polyvinylchloride surfaces exhibited significant antibacterial functions by inhibiting bacterial growth with bactericidal activity.</p><p><br></p><p>Altogether, we have successfully modified the surface of polyvinylchloride using a novel efficient and mild surface coating technique. The first hydrophilic polymer-coated polyvinylchloride surface significantly reduced cell adhesion as well as adhesion of three bacterial species. The second hydrophilic and antibacterial polymer-coated polyvinylchloride surface demonstrated significant antibacterial functions by inhibiting bacterial growth and killing bacteria in addition to significantly reduced 3T3 fibroblasts and bacterial adhesions.</p>

BACKGROUND: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia, and previous studies have focused on the epidemiology, mechanisms and risk factors for this global disease (Ryder and Benjamin 1999). Various studies have examined the mechanism, epidemiology, and risk factors for AF. One of the most common triggers for AF is believed to be premature atrial contractions (PACs) usually arising from the pulmonary veins of the left atrium, but the relationship between AF and premature ventricular complexes (PVCs) is not well understood. Studies investigating the triggers of premature beats in both the atria and ventricles are similar, so it is possible that treatment for one arrhythmia may affect the incidence of another. It is hypothesized that due to commonly shared mechanisms of triggered activity or automaticity between PACs and PVCs, and shared risk factors, that patients with AF undergoing treatment with catheter ablation may be prone to develop PVCs. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the incidence of clinically detected PVCs among patients undergoing catheter ablation for AF, and clinical predictors of PVC development in this cohort of patients. We also aim to evaluate if incident PVC detection is associated with recurrent AF following AF ablation in a cohort of 317 patients receiving treatment at a single academic medical center. METHODS: A total of 375 patients undergoing AF ablation from 2009-2012 were reviewed, and patients that underwent repeat ablations were excluded, yielding 317 patients for analysis. T-tests and Chi-squared analyses were used in univariate analyses to test for significance between characteristics of AF patients who did and did not develop PVCs. Kaplan-Meier analyses and Cox proportional hazards models were used for univariate and multivariate survival analyses, respectively, to assess the risks of incident PVC development. RESULTS: Of 317 patients with AF undergoing pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) ablation, 36.3% developed clinically detectable PVCs following ablation. A history of clinically evident PVC prior to catheter ablation for AF was associated with an 80% increase in risk of incident PVC development (HR=1.83, 95% CI 1.02-3.26, p=0.041). Additionally, a history of prior angioplasty, stent, or percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) was associated with a 73% decreased risk of incident PVCs (HR=0.27, 95% CI 0.08-0.88, p=0.03). In patients with a history of PVC prior to ablation, or who developed PVCs after ablation, there was no significant difference in the risk of AF recurrence (HR=1.01, 95% CI 0.70-1.46, p=0.96; and HR=1.09, 95% CI 0.78-1.53, p=0.60, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Over 1 in 3 patients develop clinically detected PVCs following catheter ablation. Predictors of incident PVC development include a history of PVC, whereas a history of angioplasty, stent, or PCI was associated with less incident PVC development. Furthermore, there was no significant association between both a history of PVC or incident PVC and risk of recurrent AF following ablation.

A common problem whit Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is that plasticisers tend to migrate during use. When the plasticisers migrate the material gets stiffer, this can for example cause cracks in the PVC material. Some PVC tends to crack more easily than other; finding out what is causing this problem would bring answers to a number of questions.We have done a study in cooperation with VCC. Former studies, by VCC, with variable results have been executed trying to solve the problem with cracks. We wanted to design a new test method to see if we were able to provoke cracks. If we were able to provoke these cracks, we could see when and why cracks appear in the current PVC item.During our work, we evaluated two different PVC coated materials; PVC1 and PVC2. Both materials had two different structures - with foam backing and without foam backing. We performed mechanical, thermal and chemical treatments on the materials and with help from those experiment we were able to provoke cracks in one of our PVC coated materials.According to our results, PVC1 shows a higher tendency to crack in comparison with PVC2, which only developed wrinkles. In PVC1 we could see cracks in an early stage during our mechanical testing. We evaluated our result by using a microscope and we observed a pattern in the tendency to develop cracks. PVC1 with foam backing had a higher tendency to crack in comparison with PVC1 without foam. Materials that have been abraded before flexing also tend to crack more easily.In order to see if the plasticisers migrated into the foam during our experimental work we performed an extraction of PVC1, according to the results the plasticisers might have migrated to the foam.The major conclusion from this study of PVC1 and PVC2 is that PVC1 tends to crack more easily than PVC2. The foam seems to have a negative effect on the PVC. The abrasion before ageing also have a negative effect on the PVC coated material. We could not see that the chemicals affected the materials.One of the main purposes with this study was to find a new test method for PVC coated items. We think that our test method with the ageing of the material in combination with the mechanical tests as Martindale and Ballyflex is a suitable test method while testing PVC coated materials. / Program: Textilingenjörsutbildningen

Tese de mestrado. Design Industrial. Faculdade de Engenharia. Universidade do Porto, Escola Superior de Artes e Design. 2005

Tese de mestrado. Manutenção Industrial. Faculdade de Engenharia. Universidade do Porto. 2008

<p>In this thesis, a two-dimensional pixel-wise deconvolution method for partial volume correction (PVC) for combined Positron Emission Tomography and Computer Tomography (PET/CT) imaging has been developed. The method is based on Van Cittert's deconvolution algorithm and includes a noise reduction method based on adaptive smoothing and median filters. Furthermore, a technique to take into account the position dependent PET point spread function (PSF) and to reduce ringing artifacts is also described. The quantitative and qualitative performance of the proposed PVC algorithm was evaluated using phantom experiments with varying object size, background and noise level. PVC results in an increased activity recovery as well as image contrast enhancement. However, the quantitative performance of the algorithm is impaired by the presence of background activity and image noise. When applying the correction on clinical PET images, the result was an increase in standardized uptake values, up to 98% for small tumors in the lung. These results suggest that the PVC described in this work significantly improves activity recovery without producing excessive amount of ringing artifacts and noise amplification. The main limitations of the algorithm are the restriction to two dimensions and the lack of regularization constraints based on anatomical information from the co-registered CT images.</p>