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The escalating need for a sustainable future has driven the advancement of renewable functional materials. Nanocellulose, derived from the abundant natural biopolymer cellulose, demonstrates noteworthy characteristics, including high surface area, crystallinity, mechanical strength, and modifiable chemistry. When combined with two-dimensional (2D) graphitic materials, nanocellulose can generate sophisticated hybrid materials with diverse applications as building blocks, carriers, scaffolds, and reinforcing constituents. This review highlights the progress of research on advanced functional materials based on the integration of nanocellulose, a versatile biopolymer with tailorable properties, and MXenes, a new class of 2D transition metal carbides/nitrides known for their excellent conductivity, mechanical strength, and large surface area. By addressing the challenges and envisioning future prospects, this review underscores the burgeoning opportunities inherent in MXene/nanocellulose composites, heralding a sustainable frontier in the field of materials science.

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RESUMEN

Reversible thermochromic polymers have emerged as compelling candidates in recent years, captivating attention for their application in heat detection systems. This comprehensive review navigates through the multifaceted landscape, intricately exploring both the virtues and hurdles inherent in their integration within these systems. Their innate capacity to change colour in response to temperature fluctuations renders reversible thermochromic nanocomposites promising assets for heat detection technologies. However, despite their inherent potential, certain barriers hinder their widespread adoption. Factors such as a restricted colour spectrum, reliance on external triggers, and cost considerations have restrained their pervasive use. For instance, these polymer-based materials exhibit utility in the domain of building insulation, where their colour-changing ability serves as a beacon, flagging areas of heat loss or inadequate insulation, thus alerting building managers and homeowners to potential energy inefficiencies. Nevertheless, the limited range of discernible colours may impede precise temperature differentiation. Additionally, dependency on external stimuli, such as electricity or UV light, can complicate implementation and inflate costs. Realising the full potential of these polymer-based materials in heat detection systems necessitates addressing these challenges head-on. Continuous research endeavours aimed at augmenting colour diversity and diminishing reliance on external stimuli offer promising avenues to enhance their efficacy. Hence, this review aims to delve into the intricate nuances surrounding reversible thermochromic nanocomposites, highlighting their transformative potential in heat detection and sensing. By exploring their mechanisms, properties, and current applications, this manuscript endeavours to shed light on their significance, providing insights crucial for further research and potential applications.

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This work represents a study to investigate the mechanical properties of longitudinal basalt/woven-glass-fiber-reinforced unsaturated polyester-resin hybrid composites. The hybridization of basalt and glass fiber enhanced the mechanical properties of hybrid composites. The unsaturated polyester resin (UP), basalt (B) and glass fibers (GF) were fabricated using the hand lay-up method in six formulations (UP, GF, B7.5/G22.5, B15/G15, B22.5/G7.5 and B) to produce the composites, respectively. This study showed that the addition of basalt to glass-fiber-reinforced unsaturated polyester resin increased its density, tensile and flexural properties. The tensile strength of the B22.5/G7.5 hybrid composites increased by 213.92 MPa compared to neat UP, which was 8.14 MPa. Scanning electron microscopy analysis was used to observe the fracture mode and fiber pullout of the hybrid composites.

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Hyperlipidemia is a condition of high lipid levels in the plasma and often linked with the deposition of lipid droplets in the aorta which initiate the progression of atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is a common cardiovascular disorder initiated by the formation of foams cells in the vascular wall which leads to turbulent blood flow, injury to the endothelial layer and subsequent vascular thrombosis. Since the early 1980’s, Golden-Syrian hamsters have been widely used as an animal model in the research of hyperlipidemia and atherosclerosis. The use of hamsters in the hyperlipidemic and atherosclerotic model is due to their lipoprotein profile that is closer to human setting, sensitive to high-fat high-cholesterol (HFHC) diet and a suitable rodent model. Atherosclerosis can be induced in hamsters through dietary challenge with HFHC diet. Over the decades, coconut oil (CNO) was commonly used as the source of fat in the diet design of high saturated fatty acids (SFA) composition. In this review, we summarized published literature with designs involving CNO plus cholesterol-induced hyperlipidemia, atherosclerosis or both. The factors that may influence the ability of CNO and cholesterol combination to induce hyperlipidemia such as the period of dietary intervention, hamster strains and the dietary amount were evaluated and summarized.