Development, retainment, and assessment of the graphite-electrolyte interphase in Li-ion batteries regarding the functionality of SEI-forming additives.

Formation of a decent solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI) is recognized as an approach to improve the performance of lithium-ion batteries. SEI is a passivation layer generated on the anode during the initial cycles. Characteristics of the graphite SEI depend on the operational parameters, state of the anode, and the content of the electrolyte. Introducing reduction-type additives to the carbonate electrolytes has been one of the most practiced methods to generate an effective SEI on carbonous anodes. To track the role of additives in SEI evolution, first, we have presented a general review on what is currently understood about the SEI formation processes and the impacting parameters. In the second step, the most reported methods to study and analyze the functionality of the SEI-forming additives are classified. As the third part, different reduction-type additives are categorized, and their performances are comparatively reviewed.

An efficient fractal method for detection and diagnosis of breast masses in mammograms.

In this paper, we present an efficient fractal method for detection and diagnosis of mass lesion in mammogram which is one of the abnormalities in mammographic images. We used 110 images that were carefully selected by a radiologist, and their abnormalities were also confirmed by biopsy. These images included circumscribed benign, ill-defined, and spiculated malignant masses. Firstly, we discriminated lesions automatically using new fractal dimensions. The results which were examined by different types of breast density showed that the proposed method was able to yield quite satisfactory detection results. Secondly, noting that contours of masses playing the most important role in diagnosis of different mass types, we defined new fractal features based on information extraction from the contours. This information is able to identify the roughness in mass contours and determines the extent of spiculation or smoothness of the masses. In this manner, in classification of the spiculated malignant masses from the circumscribed benign tumors, we achieved highly satisfactory results, i.e., 0.98 measured in terms of area under ROC curve (AUC). In this paper, it is also shown that the roughness in contours is a suitable characteristic feature for diagnosis of ill-defined malignant tumors with AUC equal to 0.94 in their classification. The extracted information was also found to be useful in the classification of early malignancies whereas in the classification of spiculated and ill-defined malignant masses in their early stage from those of benign tumors, we achieved high accuracy of 0.99 and 0.90 for AUC, respectively.

Blind source separation in characterizing ECG pre-shock waveforms during Ventricular Fibrillation.

Ventricular Fibrillation (VF) is a cardiac arrhythmia for which the only available treatment option is defibrillation by electrical shock. Existing literature indicates that VF could be the manifestation of different sources controlling the heart with different degrees of organization. In this work we test the hypothesis that the pre-shock waveforms of successful and unsuccessful shock outcomes could be related to the number of independent sources present in these waveforms. The proposed method uses Blind Source Separation (BSS) to extract independent components in frequency direction from a pig database consisting of 20 pre-shock waveforms. The slope of the energy capture curve was used as an indicator to demonstrate the number of independent sources required to model the pre-shock waveforms. The results were also quantified by performing a linear discriminant analysis based classification achieving an overall classification accuracy of 75%. The results indicate that successful cases can be modeled with less number of independent sources compared to unsuccessful cases.

Effect of Cholesterol Removal Processing Using ß -Cyclodextrin on Main Components of Milk.

Various concentrations (0%, 0.5%, 1% and 1.5%) of ß-CD were mixed with different fat contents (1%, 2.5% and 3%) of raw (unhomogenized) and homogenized milk at two mixing temperatures of 8 and 20°C. The cholesterol residue, fat, protein, lactose, solid nonfat (SNF), density, and ash content of milk were measured for each treatment. The results statistically analysed and showed that the cholesterol content of milk remarkably decreased as the ß-CD was increased particularly in homogenized milk at 20°C. However, the reduction rate of cholesterol was decreased when extra ß-CD was added due to its intermolecular reactions. The maximum cholesterol reduction was achieved at the level of 1% ß-CD. The fat content, SNF, protein, lactose, and density content were decreased with increasing ß-CD whereas it did not affect ash content.

Seroprevalence of brucellosis and risk factors related to high risk occupational groups in Kazeroon, South of Iran.

BACKGROUND: Brucellosis is a major zoonosis worldwide. Many people for their professions are at higher risk of contracting the disease. OBJECTIVE: To determine the seroprevalence of brucellosis and its risk factors in a group of high risk professions. METHODS: In a cross-sectional study, all personnel or students of veterinary schools, slaughters and butchers working in the city were invited to participate (n = 141). A comparison group (n = 44) randomly selected from patients who were selected at random from people attended our healthcare center for reasons other than the infectious diseases. RESULTS: 4 veterinarians, 15 veterinary assistants, 42 veterinarian students, 52 butchers, 17 slaughters, 8 slaughterhouse workers and 3 chefs made the first group and 14 storekeepers, 5 students of engineering, 11 clerks, 13 freelance workers, and 1 high school student made the comparison group. While the rate of consumption of most of the studied dairy products was almost similar in both groups, comparison group patients consumed more often milk (p<0.001) and cream (p<0.001) than the high risk group. 11 (7.8%; 95% CI: 3.4%-12.2%) cases from high risk group and none of the comparison group were found seropositive for Brucella. CONCLUSION: Profession is the main factor in seropositivity. Consumption of dairy products and raw milk is not associated with a higher risk of seropositivity.

Should we screen for hypertension in general dental practice?

Hypertension is reported by the World Health Organisation as one of the most important causes of premature morbidity and mortality, although it is often asymptomatic. Approximately 40% of the UK population are thought to be affected, however, only one third of these are currently detected. Dental practice offers an ideal opportunity to screen for hypertension, due to the large cohort of the general population who regularly attend. A pilot study was carried out to screen for hypertension and associated risk factors in 114 consecutive patients who attended a city general dental practice. Results revealed that 39% (44) of the population screened had a high blood pressure reading but only 18% (8) of these were previously diagnosed as hypertensive, and 16% (7) had systolic readings greater than 160 mmHg. Of those currently receiving treatment for hypertension, the blood pressure was still elevated in 63% (5). This suggests that screening for hypertension in general dental practice may be of benefit to the population at large.

Antiepileptogenic and anticonvulsant activity of interleukin-1 beta in amygdala-kindled rats.

Ischaemic, excitotoxic and traumatic brain injuries have been associated with the occurrence of epileptic seizures. Microglia, the principal immune cells in the brain, produce a variety of proinflammatory and cytotoxic factors especially interleukin-1 (IL-1) early after an acute insult. We studied the effect of intracerebroventricularly administered IL-1beta on seizure acquisition and on fully kindled seizures in amygdala kindling model of epilepsy. IL-1beta (0.01 ng/rat) retarded acquisition of kindled behavioral seizures and growth of afterdischarges (AD). IL-1beta (0.01-10 ng/rat) also exhibited significant anticonvulsant effect on established kindled seizures and AD duration. This effect began 0.5 h after administration and was continued up to 72 h. Pretreatment of the kindled animals with nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester, or cyclooxygenase inhibitor, piroxicam, reversed the anticonvulsant effect of IL-1beta at early time points. Although most of the previous studies indicate a proconvulsant or convulsant property of IL-1, our results support a protective and antiepileptogenic role of IL-1beta.

Cutaneous leishmaniasis: what about a new, inexpensive, effective, topical herbal remedy?

Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) remains an important disease and public health problem in many parts around the world especially in the Middle East. In the absence of adequate treatment, the lesion could become chronic and disfiguring. We report on three cases with chronic CL lesions that were successfully treated with topical application of a new herbal mixture named "Z-HE". It is clearly demonstrated that this inexpensive, simple, effective and non toxic topical drug has a promising curative role in the treatment of CL.

Transient renal glucosuria in patients with tetanus.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: During our early years of experience with patients suffering from tetanus, some of them were found to have unexplained renal glucosuria. METHODS: Thus, all the normoglycemic patients with tetanus who were consecutively encountered over the subsequent 8 years were studied for the presence of renal glucosuria. RESULTS: From 92 cases of tetanus admitted to the intensive-care unit, 63 patients had normal blood sugar in the course of their illness. The quantitative measurement of 24-hour urine confirmed the presence of significant renal glucosuria in 52% (n = 33) of these cases. The renal glucosuria was of transient nature and decreased to normal levels in the recovery stage (4 weeks after discharge from the hospital). There was no significant difference in age, sex, severity of disease and site of entry between the two groups of the patients with and without renal glucosuria. CONCLUSION: Significant but transient glucosuria of renal origin possibly induced by tetanospasmin is common in patients with tetanus.