Linking void and interphase evolution to electrochemistry in solid-state batteries using operando X-ray tomography.

Despite progress in solid-state battery engineering, our understanding of the chemo-mechanical phenomena that govern electrochemical behaviour and stability at solid-solid interfaces remains limited compared to at solid-liquid interfaces. Here, we use operando synchrotron X-ray computed microtomography to investigate the evolution of lithium/solid-state electrolyte interfaces during battery cycling, revealing how the complex interplay among void formation, interphase growth and volumetric changes determines cell behaviour. Void formation during lithium stripping is directly visualized in symmetric cells, and the loss of contact that drives current constriction at the interface between lithium and the solid-state electrolyte (Li10SnP2S12) is quantified and found to be the primary cause of cell failure. The interphase is found to be redox-active upon charge, and global volume changes occur owing to partial molar volume mismatches at either electrode. These results provide insight into how chemo-mechanical phenomena can affect cell performance, thus facilitating the development of solid-state batteries.

Prevalence and clinical significance of totally occluded infarct-related arteries in patients with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndromes.

Background Seemingly conflicting findings exist regarding the prognostic impact of totally occluded infarct-related arteries (oIRA) in non-ST elevation acute coronary syndromes (NSTE-ACS). Methods Retrospective analysis of prospective multicenter registry data comprising a single-center NSTE-ACS cohort, aimed at assessing the impact of occluded (TIMI flow 0/1) versus patent culprit vessels (pIRA, TIMI flow 2/3) on the composite endpoint of all-cause death and cardiogenic shock events at 30 days. Results Of 568 patients, 183 (32.5%) had oIRA. Male sex, refractory angina, ECG suggestive of multivessel or left main disease, and larger infarct sizes with inferior/posterolateral wall involvement, were identified as highly specific markers of oIRA. Successful culprit-lesion revascularization occurred more frequently in patent than in oIRA (90% vs. 96%; P = 0.013). Conversely, patients with oIRA more frequently achieved successful revascularization of concurrent non-IRAs including chronic total occlusions than did those with pIRA (28% vs. 3%; P = 0.0005). Multivariate analysis revealed neutral effects of oIRA on outcomes and identified incomplete revascularization as a powerful predictor of mortality. Moderation analysis revealed a significant interaction between completeness of revascularization and IRA patency, whereby among the incompletely revascularized patients, those with oIRA enjoyed a significant survival advantage over their counterparts with pIRA (11.8% vs. 28%, adjusted OR 0.34; 95% CI 0.10-0.73; Pinteraction = 0.012). Conclusions Approximately one third of NSTE-ACS patients in this cohort had oIRA. However, compared with pIRA, the occurrence of oIRA did not portend poor outcomes, likely resulting from the higher rate of incomplete revascularization and increased risk of subsequent mortality in patients with pIRA. These exploratory findings warrant further investigation.

Tube-Super Dielectric Materials: Electrostatic Capacitors with Energy Density Greater than 200 J·cm-3.

The construction and performance of a second generation of super dielectric material based electrostatic capacitors (EC), with energy density greater than 200 J·cm-³, which rival the best reported energy density of electric double layer capacitors (EDLC), also known as supercapacitors, are reported. The first generation super dielectric materials (SDM) are multi-material mixtures with dielectric constants greater than 1.0 × 105, composed of a porous, electrically insulating powder filled with a polarizable, ion-containing liquid. Second-generation SDMs (TSDM), introduced here, are anodic titania nanotube arrays filled with concentrated aqueous salt solutions. Capacitors using TiO2 based TSDM were found to have dielectric constants at ~0 Hz greater than 107 in all cases, a maximum operating voltage of greater than 2 volts and remarkable energy density that surpasses the highest previously reported for EC capacitors by approximately one order of magnitude. A simple model based on the classic ponderable media model was shown to be largely consistent with data from nine EC type capacitors employing TSDM.

Correlación de los niveles de dopamina plasmática entre perros con distintos tipos de agresividad / Correlation of the Amounts of Plasma Dopamine Among Dogs with Different Types of Aggression / Correlação das quantidades de dopamina plasmática entre cachorros com distintos tipos de agressividade

El objetivo del presente estudio era determinar si existía relación entre las cantidades de dopamina plasmática (DAp) y las conductas agresivas en pacientes caninos. Para ello se trabajó con dos grupos: un grupo estudio de quince perros machos, enteros, principalmente adultos, sin signos de enfermedad y diagnosticados como agresivos mediante la aplicación de un protocolo etológico, y un grupo control de cinco perros con las mismas características a las del grupo estudio, con excepción de los problemas de conducta. Para cada grupo se determinaron características individuales, ambientales y conductuales, que fueron relacionadas con las concentraciones de DAp a través de la técnica de cromatografía líquida de alta eficacia o high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), acoplado a un detector electroquímico. Dentro de los resultados del grupo estudio, se observó principalmente agresividad por dominancia (73%), intraespecífica (14%) y territorial (13%), y junto con ello se detectó que el 73% presentó signos de ansiedad. En cuanto a los valores de DAp, el 53% de los perros obtuvo valores menores a 0,04 ng/ml y al 47% restante no fue posible determinarle un valor promedio, debido a la amplitud de su distribución. Para el grupo control los valores de DAp fueron menores de 0,04 ng/ml. A partir de un análisis de varianza de los promedios mínimos cuadrados se determinó que el 64% de las concentraciones plasmáticas de DA eran explicadas por la ansiedad; no siendo así con las conductas agresivas.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether a link existed between the amounts of plasma dopamine (DAp) and aggressive behavior in canine patients. For such purpose, we worked with two groups: one group of fifteen male, non-castrated, mostly adult dogs with no signs of disease and diagnosed as aggressive through the application of an ethological protocol; and another group of five dogs (control group) with the same characteristics as the group under study, except without the behavioral problems. Individual, environmental and behavioral characteristics associated to the DAp concentrations through the high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), coupled to an electrochemical detector, were determined for each group. The results from the group under study revealed mostly dominance (73%), intraspecific (14%) and territorial (13%) aggression, and signs of anxiety were also detected in 73% of them. Regarding DAp values, 53% of the dogs obtained values below 0.04 ng/ml, while it was not possible to determine an average value for the remaining 47%, due to the extent of their distribution. DAp values for the control group were less than 0.04 ng/ml. Through an ANDEVA of least squares means, it was determined that 64% of the plasma concentrations of DA were explained by anxiety, which was not the case for aggressive behaviors.

O objetivo deste estudo foi determinar se existia relação entre as quantidades de dopamina plasmática (DAp) e as condutas agressivas em pacientes caninos. Para isso se trabalhou com dois grupos: um de quinze cachorros machos, inteiros, principalmente adultos, sem sinais de doença e diagnosticados como agressivos mediante a aplicação de um protocolo etológico; e outro de cinco cachorros (grupo controle) com as mesmas características que as do grupo estudo, com exceção dos problemas de conduta. Para cada grupo se determinaram características individuais, ambientais e de conduta, que se relacionaram com as concentrações de DAp através da técnica de cromatografia líquida de alta eficácia ou high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), acoplado a um detector eletroquímico. Dentro dos resultados do grupo de estudo se observou principalmente agressividade por dominância (73%), intraespecífica (14%) e territorial (13%), e junto com isso se detectou que o 73% apresentou sinais de ansiedade. Em quanto aos valores de DAp, 53% dos cachorros obteve valores menores a 0,04 ng/ml e o 47% restante não foi possível determinar um valor aproximado devido à amplitude de sua distribuição. Para o grupo de controle os valores de DAp foram menores que 0,04 ng/ml. A partir de um ANDEVA das médias mínimas quadradas se determinou que 64% das concentrações plasmáticas de DA eram explicadas pela ansiedade; não sendo assim com as condutas agressivas.

Neumotórax bilateral por broncoscopía en un lactante: presentación de un caso / Bilateral pneumothorax due to bronchoscopy in an infant: Case presentation

El neumotórax es una de las complicaciones mayores de la broncoscopia. Se reporta el caso de un lactante de 8 meses a quien se le indicó broncoscopia de urgencia por la presencia de un cuerpo extraño en la vía área. Durante el procedimiento presentó neumotórax bilateral condicionado por factores propios del cuerpo extraño, la situación se resolvió con toracotomía bilateral.

Among the bigger complication of bronchoscopy, the neumotorax is one these. You report the case of infant of eight month who have tracheobronchial foreign body aspiration, the indication was bronchoscopy of emergency, during procediment presented bilateral pneumothorax conditioned this for owns factors of foreign body, the treatment was with thoracotomy in both hemitorax.

[Accelerated phase of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis]. / Fase acelerada de la fibrosis pulmonar idiopática.

The natural history of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is characterized by a slow progression resulting in respiratory failure and death. The progression to the fulminant form is rapid in a small percentage of cases, however. Within weeks or months, patients develop respiratory distress, and extensive ground-glass patterns can be seen in computed tomography scans and hyaline membranes in biopsy samples. This is described as an accelerated phase of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, in which elevated levels of acute-phase reactants and tumor markers have been reported. To date, the monoclonal tumor marker, CA 15/3 has not been associated with the accelerated phase.

Fase acelerada de la fibrosis pulmonar idiopática / Accelerated phase of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

La historia natural de la fibrosis pulmonar idiopática es la lenta evolución hacia la insuficiencia respiratoria y la muerte. Sin embargo, un pequeño porcentaje de casos evoluciona en semanas o pocos meses de forma fulminante con insuficiencia respiratoria, imágenes extensas de vidrio esmerilado y formación de membranas hialinas en las muestras de biopsia; es lo que se denomina "fase acelerada" de la fibrosis pulmonar idiopática, durante la cual se describen incrementos de las cifras de reactantes de fase aguda y marcadores tumorales. Hasta la fecha no se ha relacionado el marcador tumoral monoclonal CA 15/3 con dicha fase acelerada

The natural history of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is characterized by a slow progression resulting in respiratory failure and death. The progression to the fulminant form is rapid in a small percentage of cases, however. Within weeks or months, patients develop respiratory distress, and extensive ground-glass patterns can be seen in computed tomography scans and hyaline membranes in biopsy samples. This is described as an accelerated phase of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, in which elevated levels of acute-phase reactants and tumor markers have been reported. To date, the monoclonal tumor marker, CA 15/3 has not been associated with the accelerated phase

The evolution of dental health in dental students at the University of Barcelona.

The aim of this research was to study the evolution of dental health of dental students during their academic training and to assess the extent to which the knowledge acquired was reflected in their own dental care. A sample of 107 students at the schools of dentistry and medicine (the latter as a comparison group) of the University of Barcelona, Spain, underwent an oral examination and completed a questionnaire during their training in the third and fifth academic years. The oral examinations were limited to the status of teeth. Bitewing radiographs were used for both posterior sectors, and these were interpreted using the criteria proposed by Pitts (1984). The data were analyzed using the SPSS package. At the end of the study, medical students had more teeth present than dental students (29.80 vs. 28.94 [p = 0.022]) and a lower DMFT index of 4.33 vs. 5.91 (p=0.038), with an FT component of 2.44 and 5.23 (p = 0.011), respectively. All dental students underwent more treatment of all types than medical students, and dental health habits and knowledge were superior in dental students. The third year was the key year for decision making with regard to the student's dental health. We conclude that dental students are highly motivated about maintaining their dental health and their dental education experiences appear to have had a clear influence on this behavior.