Initial SEI formation in LiBOB-, LiDFOB- and LiBF4-containing PEO electrolytes.

A limiting factor for solid polymer electrolyte (SPE)-based Li-batteries is the functionality of the electrolyte decomposition layer that is spontaneously formed at the Li metal anode. A deeper understanding of this layer will facilitate its improvement. This study investigates three SPEs - polyethylene oxide:lithium tetrafluoroborate (PEO:LiBF4), polyethylene oxide:lithium bis(oxalate)borate (PEO:LiBOB), and polyethylene oxide:lithium difluoro(oxalato)borate (PEO:LiDFOB) - using a combination of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), galvanostatic cycling, in situ Li deposition photoelectron spectroscopy (PES), and ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) simulations. Through this combination, the cell performance of PEO:LiDFOB can be connected to the initial SPE decomposition at the anode interface. It is found that PEO:LiDFOB had the highest capacity retention, which is correlated to having the least decomposition at the interface. This indicates that the lower SPE decomposition at the interface still creates a more effective decomposition layer, which is capable of preventing further electrolyte decomposition. Moreover, the PES results indicate formation of polyethylene in the SEI in cells based on PEO electrolytes. This is supported by AIMD that shows a polyethylene formation pathway through free-radical polymerization of ethylene.

A method for modelling polymer electrolyte decomposition during the Li-nucleation process in Li-metal batteries.

Elucidating the complex degradation pathways and formed decomposition products of the electrolytes in Li-metal batteries remains challenging. So far, computational studies have been dominated by studying the reactions at inert Li-metal surfaces. In contrast, this study combines DFT and AIMD calculations to explore the Li-nucleation process for studying interfacial reactions during Li-plating by introducing Li-atoms close to the metal surface. These Li-atoms were added into the PEO polymer electrolytes in three stages to simulate the spontaneous reactions. It is found that the highly reactive Li-atoms added during the simulated nucleation contribute to PEO decomposition, and the resulting SEI components in this calculation include lithium alkoxide, ethylene, and lithium ethylene complexes. Meanwhile, the analysis of atomic charge provides a reliable guideline for XPS spectrum fitting in these complicated multicomponent systems. This work gives new insights into the Li-nucleation process, and experimental XPS data supporting this computational strategy. The AIMD/DFT approach combined with surface XPS spectra can thus help efficiently screen potential polymer materials for solid-state battery polymer electrolytes.

[Exploration on the spectrum of disease and acupoints in post-stroke disorder treated with acupuncture and moxibustion on the basis of data mining technology].

OBJECTIVE: Data mining technology is used to analyze the spectrum of disease and acupoints in the treatment of post-stroke disorder with acupuncture and moxibustion in modern times. METHODS: The literature resources are formulated, the name of disease and acupoint are standardized, the spectrum of acupuncture for disease that post-stroke disorder belonged to and their genealogical classification are collected, the spectrum of acupoints in the treatment of post-stroke disorder are summarized. RESULTS: Totally, 652 modern clinical research papers are collected, including 9 classification systems in ICD-10 and 40 diseases; 143 nonacupoints are used and the application frequency are 737; 253 acupoints are used and the application frequency are 5395. According to application frequency, the points are divided into often used points(23 points), sometimes used points (100) and less used points (130). CONCLUSION: The lack of standardization is the common problem found in modern acupuncture literature in the treatment of post-stroke disorders and the spectrum of disease is in biased distribution. The selected acupoints are distributed in the fourteen meridians and acupoints of yang meridian are the first option. The most common used meridians are Yangming and Shaoyang.

[Exploration on the characteristics of meridian points in the treatment of post-stroke disorder with acupuncture and moxibustion based on the data mining technology].

Using data mining technology to analyze the application characteristics and laws of the meridian points in the treatment of post-stroke disorder with acupuncture and moxibustion in modern times. On the basis of the collection of the modern literatures about the treatment of post-stroke disorder with acupuncture and moxibustion, the database of acupuncture-moxibustion prescription was established. The relevance rule method in the data mining technology was mainly adopted to analyze the application characteristics and laws of the meridian points in the treatment of post-stroke disorder with acupuncture and moxibustion. Totally, 682 prescription of acupuncture and moxibustion were collected, including 253 acupoints and 5395 application frequency. The selected acupoints were distributed in the fourteen meridians and 76.5% (4128/5395) of them were on the four limbs and 13.8% (744/5395) were on the head and neck. The total application frequency of the yang meridians accounted for 74.7% (4029/5395) and the specific acupoints for 83.8% (4522/5395). It was indicated that in the treatment of post-stroke disorder with acupuncture and moxibustion, the acupoint selection was basically along the involved meridians, which was focused on the local affected areas and combined with the distal acupoints. The acupoints of the yang meridians were the first option, distributed mainly on the four limbs. The combination of yangming meridian and shaoyang meridian was the most common. The specific acupoints were the major components of the prescription, especially the crossing acupoints and the specific acupoints located below the elbows and knee joints.

Bedside ultrasonography as a safe and effective tool to diagnose acute epiglottitis.

Acute epiglottitis is a true airway emergency in the emergency department (ED). The patient may appear very toxic and rapidly progress to respiratory distress and life-threatening condition. The inflammatory process includes not only epiglottis but also the rest of the supraglottic area including the vallecula, aryepiglottic folds, and arytenoids. Soft tissue swelling over this windpipe area can be very dramatic. The criterion standard of diagnosis is direct inspection of cherry red and swollen epiglottis by laryngoscopy in the operation room with immediate access to anesthetists or ear, nose, and throat specialists. However, before the patients are well prepared, the clinical condition may critically go downhill; and any intention to visualize the throat can result in severe and fatal airway spasm. Thumbprint sign on lateral radiography of neck is typical, but it may be extremely risky to let a patient leave the consulting room for the study if respiratory distress has developed. We demonstrate a safe and practical way to investigate the epiglottis by bedside ultrasonography to visualize the "alphabet P sign" in a longitudinal view through thyrohyoid membrane by emergency physician in the ED.