Progress and perspectives on the reaction mechanisms in mild-acidic aqueous zinc-manganese oxide batteries.

The appeal of safe, energy-dense, and environmentally-friendly MnO2 as a cathode for rechargeable aqueous zinc-metal oxide batteries (AZMOBs) has attracted significant research attention, but unexpected complexities have resulted in a decade of confusion and conflicting claims. The literature base is near saturation with a mix of efforts to achieve practical, rechargeable Zn-ion batteries and to untangle the presented electrochemical mechanisms. We have summarized the respective mechanisms and contextualized the respective justifications. As new perspectives arise from in situ and operando techniques, renewed efforts must solidify mechanistic understandings and reconcile disparate data through judicial application of ab initio modelling. In light of a variety of MnO2 cathode phases and stable, meta-stable, and complex reaction products, this perspective emphasizes the need for greater supplementation of the in situ and operando characterization with modelling, such as density functional theory. Through the elucidation of key mechanisms under dynamic operating and characterization conditions, the body of previously contradictory research and routes to practical batteries may be unified, and guide the way to longevity and grid-scale applicable charge rates and capacity.

Association of Health Insurance Status with Outcomes of Sepsis in Adult Patients: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

(1) Background: Sepsis is a life-threatening disease, and various demographic and socioeconomic factors affect outcomes in sepsis. However, little is known regarding the potential association between health insurance status and outcomes of sepsis in Korea. We evaluated the association of health insurance and clinical outcomes in patients with sepsis. (2) Methods: Prospective cohort data of adult patients with sepsis and septic shock from March 2016 to December 2018 in three hospitals were retrospectively analyzed. We categorized patients into two groups according to their health insurance status: National Health Insurance (NHI) and Medical Aid (MA). The primary end point was in-hospital mortality. The multivariate logistic regression model and propensity score matching were used. (3) Results: Of a total of 2526 eligible patients, 2329 (92.2%) were covered by NHI, and 197 (7.8%) were covered by MA. The MA group had fewer males, more chronic kidney disease, more multiple sources of infection, and more patients with initial lactate > 2 mmol/L. In-hospital, 28-day, and 90-day mortality were not significantly different between the two groups and in-hospital mortality was not different in the subgroup analysis. Furthermore, health insurance status was not independently associated with in-hospital mortality in multivariate analysis and was not associated with survival outcomes in the propensity score-matched cohort. (4) Conclusions: Our propensity score-matched cohort analysis demonstrated that there was no significant difference in in-hospital mortality by health insurance status in patients with sepsis.

Performance of patient acuity rating by rapid response team nurses for predicting short-term prognosis.

BACKGROUND: Although scoring and machine learning methods have been developed to predict patient deterioration, bedside assessment by nurses should not be overlooked. This study aimed to evaluate the performance of subjective bedside assessment of the patient by the rapid response team (RRT) nurses in predicting short-term patient deterioration. METHODS: Patients noticed by RRT nurses based on the vital sign instability, abnormal laboratory results, and direct contact via phone between November 1, 2016, and December 12, 2017, were included. Five RRT nurses visited the patients according to their shifts and assessed the possibility of patient deterioration. Patient acuity rating (PAR), a scale of 1-7, was used as the tool of bedside assessment. Other scores, including the modified early warning score, VitalPAC early warning score, standardised early warning score, and cardiac arrest risk triage, were calculated afterwards. The performance of these scores in predicting mortality and/or intensive care unit admission within 1 day was compared by calculating the area under the receiver operating curve. RESULTS: A total of 1,426 patients were included in the study, of which 258 (18.1%) died or were admitted to the intensive care unit within 1 day. The area under the receiver operating curve of PAR was 0.87 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.84-0.89), which was higher than those of modified early warning score (0.66, 95% CI 0.62-0.70), VitalPAC early warning score (0.69, 95% CI 0.66-0.73), standardised early warning score (0.67, 95% CI 0.63-0.70) and cardiac arrest risk triage (0.63, 95% CI 0.59-0.66) (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: PAR assessed by RRT nurses can be a useful tool for assessing short-term patient prognosis in the RRT setting.

Trainee physician turnover and 30-day mortality in Korean intensive care units.

PURPOSE: Previous studies have found an increase in in-hospital mortality when trainee physicians rotate. Our retrospective cohort study investigated whether trainee physicians' turnover influenced 30-day mortality in Korean intensive care units (ICUs), which have high-intensity daytime intensivist coverage only on weekdays. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Participants were adults over 19years old admitted to ICUs in a Korean tertiary care academic hospital between 2012 and 2016. Demographic and clinical data were collected on admission, and dates of death recorded. The primary outcome was the association between ICU admission in the turnover periods (March and May) and 30-day mortality after admission to ICUs with high-intensity daytime intensivist coverage. RESULTS: Overall, there was no significant correlation between ICU admission during turnover periods and 30-day mortality [hazard ratio (HR), 1.06; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.83-1.35, P=0.647]; the same trend was found for ICU admissions when there was no intensivist coverage (HR: 1.24, 95% CI: 0.91-1.69, P=0.177). CONCLUSIONS: We found no overall association between physician turnover and 30-day mortality of patients admitted to ICUs with high-intensity daytime intensivist coverage or with no intensivist coverage.